Hall County, Nebraska - Chapter 1: Haliv County, Nebraska, Prior to 1858, 1920

Chapter 1: Haliv County, Nebraska, Prior to 1858

Purport of County History - Discoveries Affecting Hael County - Territorial RuLg - Lewis and Clark Expedition - The Astorian Expedition - Long's Expedition in 1819 - Fremont's Description of Grand Island - Initial Steps in Formation of Nebraska - Territorial Government Prior to 1858

The work of the student of history has heretofore been confined almost wholly to the political, religious, and literary development of peoples. Their industrial, commercial, local, and individual work-a-day and social development has been subjected to inexcusable neglect. In school, at home in the recesses of our private libraries, in the club, and in the public library we spend our hours in devouring the history of the World; the narratives of the nations, and once in a-while we drop down to the story of the state in which we live. Those of you who have read through the first volume of this set will have become familiar with the story of the state of Nebraska. But even when that has been mastered there remains the fact that the history of Nebraska is fundamentally built upon the individual activities and cooperation of the ninety-three counties, each one of which is a separate and somewhat sovereign community in itself, as well as an inseparable integral part of the state.

Not a day passes but that men and women of little note, do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows ; of these obscure heroes, philosophers, and martyrs the greater part will never be known till that hour

The foundation of the spirit that we call the Nebraska spirit lies in the struggles and individual freedom that have been evidenced by the pioneers and builders of each of these ninety-three counties. The history of a nation, when given a broad general examination, seems to be a narrative of wars, political struggles at the polls and in the legislative halls, with an occasional venture into the original development of an important venture, or opening of a new source of commercial growth. The biographies of presidents and rulers; of commanders of the armies; of the statesmen who struggle in the forensic battles of the legislative halls ; of explorers who open up new realms, seem to be the structure around which the history of the nation is written.

Then to come down to the county, the community in which one resides, is not the same rule true? Is not each home, each school, each church, each lodge, and each administration of local county and city government a similar step in the development of that community?

The history of Hall County naturally bci^ins with the history of Nebraska, of which it is an inseparable part. Wherever each individual student of history would agree that the history of the United States begins, there likewise the history of Nebraska, and, indirectly, that of Hall County, begins. It is unnecessary to consume the pages of this volume to be devoted to the particular history of Hall County, with a detailed though interesting narrative of the general early history of Nebraska except inasmuch as the more important facts have a direct bearing upon the particular stretch of territory that eventually became Hall County.

When Christopher Columbus dared to adventure where others feared to go, and by a single act revealed to the astonished gaze of Europe the existence of new lands of wonderful beauty and promise where none were believed to exist, and, at a blow, dispelled forever the ignorance and fear which hitherto had enslaved the mind and paralyzed the endeavor of the most favored and most intelligent portion of the globe, he opened up to the descendants of many European peoples the fertile soil of . the Platte and indirectly discovered Hall County, just as much as any other portion of the United States. The discoveries that followed during the next century also indirectly applied to Nebraska and to Hall County. The people of all western Europe during the fifteenth century were emerging from the "Dark Ages" and freeing themselves gradually from the forms of government which had characterized the feudal system, and for the first time since modern Europe had arisen from the fragments of the Roman Empire its governments were coming into the hands of able rulers, the common people of each country were beginning to think for themselves along currents that evolved the influences and motives that three hundred years later drove their descendants across the broad Atlantic and impelled them half-way across the undeveloped Western continent and invited them to settle down along the broad banks of the Platte and build the community, the growth and development of which we are about to narrate in the following pages.

The history of Nebraska is generally and properly said to begin with the voyage of the heroic LaSalle in 1682. Preceding that, the story of the explorations of Louisiana Territory by Spaniards in 1539-44 reads more like a mediaeval romance than an authentic historical record, and the discovery of the Mississippi River by the valiant cavaliers of that period opened up the way for subsequent events. DeSoto's little band, the flower of Spanish chivalry, had bravely wandered for about four years through the almost impenetrable forests and recesses of the new Continent until they wound up in the lower Mississippi Valley. In the spring of 1541 the glorious sight of the broad Mississippi - the mighty Father of Waters - burst upon their wondering vision. DeSoto crossed the mighty river in hastily constructed boats, and pursued his wanderings on the western side. It is probable, but not certain, that his eyes may have rested on the broad prairies of the nov; fertile state of Nebraska. But it is certain that Nebraska must have been visited by Spanish explorers long before the advent of the earliest French and English explorers to whom we can trace events with an unbroken record, for portions of the armor and equipment of the Spanish adventurers have been discovered in this state in years past. Just to whom these relics belonged is a secret that may forever be locked up in the breast of unwritten history.

For nearly a century and a half after the ill-fated DeSoto slept beneath the waters of the great river which he discovered, the Mississippi Valley, and naturally likewise the Missouri and Platte valleys, remained undisturbed in the possession of Indians. Spain made no direct eiifort to civilize the region she already could claim by right of discovery. France and England in the meantime became rivals for the affections and possession of these new fields of conquest. England was establishing herself along the coasts of the

Atlantic, and France was obtaining a foothold at Quebec and pushing her hold up the St. Lawrence River. The first men to enter upon a systematic exploration of the vast region of which Nebraska is a part were the Jesuits, or members of the Society of Jesus, a famous religious society founded by Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish knight of the sixteenth century. The work of the Jesuit missionaries led to the discovery of the Ohio River and the partial exploration of two routes to the Mississippi, before the eyes of the territory-hunting Europeans rested upon the northern portion of that great river and its tributary territories. A young fur trader, Louis Joliet, and a Jesuit missionary, Jacques Marquette, set out on a perilous undertaking on May 17, 1673. After a month of steady pushing forward, paddling in canoes along the swift currents of unknown streams, and threading their way through dense forests, on June 17 they reached the mouth of the Wisconsin. Then they pushed their canoes out into the broad, rolling Mississippi, and drifted rapidly down its current. They passed the mouth of the Missouri, on down to the mouth of the Ohio, and still further down until they came to the mouth of the Arkansas. They brought the emblazoned trail of travel a little closer to the unlocked bosoms of the Nebraska prairies. But as said before, it remained for another intrepid Frenchman to complete the work left unfinished by Marquette and Joliet, and to take formal possession of Louisiana in the name of the King of France. An historical sequence of events leads the mind steadily forward from the discoveries and accomplishments of Sieur de LaSalle till by well defined processes of differentiation and elimination a point is reached where the commonwealth of Nebraska stands forth clearly defined in the mighty sisterhood of states which comprise this North American republic.

In 1682, LaSalle set up his wooden column on which had been inscribed the following: "Louis the Great, King of France and of Navarre, King. April 9th, 1682."

scepter of Louis XIV, and standing on the delta of that great river, he called into existence the territory of Louisiana, out of which came Nebraska, and the first semblance of organized, political government was extended over the vast and unknown regions of dense forests to the north and west, to the apparently limitless prairie watered by thousands of streams and peopled then only by savage Indian tribes, the abode of buffalo and other wild denizens of the forest and plain.

The following list of vicero'ys who ruled over the vast territory of the New France in central North America may be indirectly said to be the first governmental administrators of this part of the continent from which Nebraska and her county daughter. Hall, eventually sprang.

In 1762, France was compelled by force of military necessity to relinquish to Spain her title to Louisiana. During that time the territory destined to form Nebraska, and its subdivision. Hall County, was under Spanish sovereignty. That government combined the semi-military government until 1803, when the territory passed under the flag of the United States. The list of Spanish governors of that period were:

The account of the negotiations which led of the peaceful acquisition of Louisiana forms one of the interesting chapters of our national history, and both familiar and available enough to render it unnecessary to detail it in full at this point. During the years in which Spain had controlled the central portion of our continent, her policy in restricting the free navigation of the Mississippi River had stirred up much contention between the isiana Purchase than the real development of that region began. It was indeed a tremendous accession to the territory of the young re-- public. The very figures that attempt to convey to the mind some idea of its superficial area are themselves impressive. It more than doubled the previous land area of the United States. In round numbers it exceeded 883,- 000 square miles. Out of it, in addition to the present state of Louisiana, there have been carved Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Da-

United States and the Spanish government. France had been delayed long enough in taking actual possession of Louisiana that circumstances forced its cession to the United States before there could be any change in policy. The Mississippi River formed, at that time, the only outlet for the products of the settlers west of the Alleghany Mountains. The change from Spanish to French control did not augur any real relief, for Napoleon fully appreciated the immense value of Louisiana and at once began the work of fortifying the entrance to the Mississippi.

Lewis And Clark Expeditlon

kota, two-thirds of Minnesota, one-third of Colorado, and three-fourths of Wyoming. At the time of its accession to the United States its known population did not exceed five thousand souls, nearly one-half of whom were slaves. In 1810 the first federal census showed a population of twenty thousand, of whom one-half were still negro slaves. If taken today, a census of the same territory would hover around twenty million, all free men. But the sagacious and energetic Jefterson had matured a plan for exploring the Missouri River country, almost before Congress had ratified the treaty under which possession was acquired. That least known portion of the territory, then, in fact, almost an unknown land except possibly to the Indians, fur traders, hunters, "and some French priests, who appear to have visited nearly every portion of the territory, lay awaiting some directed attention.

In May, 1804, the far-famed Lewis and Clark expedition was started up the Missouri River charged with the duty of exploring, that great river from its mouth to its source and then on to the Pacific Ocean. This party, consisting of nine young men from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers of the United States army who volunteered their services, two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a black servant belonging to Captain Clark, with several other members, as watermen and assistants, set forth. Following up the Missouri River, they came in sight of the present Nebraska on the afternoon of July 11, 1804, and camped opposite the mouth of the Big Nemaha.

This expedition is of particular importance as it gives the first historical glimpse of the eastern border of Nebraska. From the point where it first touched the present state at the southeast corner to the point at the northeast corner where the Missouri River reaches its borders the distance is 277 miles as the bird flies. According to the government survey, the distance between these two points is 441 miles, following the meanderings of the river. The Lewis-Clark expedition recorded 556 miles of river front for the state in 1804. The journals of Lieut. William Clark and Capt. Meriwether Lewis did not chronicle any thing definite as to Hall County or the Platte Valley, but their journey past Nebraska brought one step nearer the arrival of attention to this Platte Valley. In 1806, General James Wilkinson, then commander in chief of the United States army and also governor of the territory of Louisiana, sent forth the expedition of Lieut. Zebu- Ion M. Pike, which resulted in the discover}' of Pike's Peak. This party travelled a route that lay somewhat south of the Platte, and in fact it has been somewhat the subject of controversy as to whether their trail crossed north into Nebraska or stayed in northern Kansas.

The Astorian Expedition

The spirit of commerce that led to the first exploration and civilized occupation of the Northwest, including Nebraska, operated a step further. In 1810 John Jacob Astor ^ of New York organized the Pacific Fur Company for the purpose of colonization and trade at the mouth of the Columbia River.

This expedition started out in September, 1810, and founded Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River in the spring of the following year. On the 28th of June, 1812, Robert Stuart started from Astoria with five of Hunt's original party on a return overland trip. In southeastern Idaho he was joined by four men whom Hunt had detached iln 1810 John Jacob Astor organized the Pacific Fur Corporation, a partnership including himself, Wilson Price Hunt, Robert Stuart and others for the 'purpose of colonization and trade at the mouth of the Columbia river. Hunt with a party in three boats left in October, 1810, a month followmg the party led bv the partners who founded Astoria. Hunt's party reached .\storia in February, 1811.

from the party on the 10th of the previous October. After a journey of terrible hardships they established winter quarters on the North Platte River not far east of the place where it issues from the mountains. At the end of six weeks they were driven out by the Indians and proceeded three hundred and thirty miles down the Platte; and then, despairing of being able to pass safely over the desert plain covered with deep snow which confronted them, they went back over seventy-seven miles of their course until they found a suitable winter camp in what is now Scotts Bluff County, where they went into winter quarters on the 30th of December, 1812. On the 8th of March they tried to navigate the stream in canoes but found it impracticable, and proceeded further on foot. It is chronicled that they came down the river to "Great Island," where they bought some elk's hide boats. It is possible that this was the first official mention of the future Grand Island. At least the party proceeded to a point about forty-five miles from the mouth of the Platte, and there embarked on April

In 1819, Major S. H. Long travelled with a party of twenty men from the Missouri River up the Platte to the head waters of its south fork near Denver. The most important feature of this trip, as affecting Hall County, is the description in Major Long's journal of the hopelessness of the Platte Valley:

In regard to this extensive section of country, I do not hesitate in giving the opinion, that it is almost wholly unfit for cultivation, and of course uninhabitable by a people depending upon agriculture for their subsistence.

Although tracts of fertile land considerably extensive are occasionally to be met with, yet the scarcity of wood and water, almost uniformly prevalent, will prove an insunnountable obstacle in the way of settling the countr}^ This objection rests not only against the section immediately under consideration, but applies with equal propriety to a much larger portion of the country. . . . This region, however, viewed as a frontier, may prove of infinite importance to the United States, inasmuch as it is calculated to serve as a barrier to prevent too great an extension of our population westward, and secure us against the machinations or incursions of an enemy that might otherwise be disposed to annoy us in that part of our frontier.

We have little apprehension of giving too unfavorable an account of this portion of the country. Though the soil is in some places fertile, the want' of timber, of navigable streams, and of water for the necessities of life, render it an unfit residence for any but a nomad population. The traveler who shall at any time have traversed its desolate sands, will, we think, join us in the wish that this region may for ever remain the unmolested haunt of the native hunter, the bison, and the jackall.

Could Major Long see the Platte Valley in 1919, one hundred years after his observation, he would, to say the least, request another guess. During the years 1808-1820,

Changes In The Territory, Now Nebraska

The Nebraska region was part of the territory of Lidiana from October 1, 1804, until July 4, 1805. On March 3, 1805, Congress changed the district of Louisiana to the territory of Louisiana and it remained a portion of that territory with the capital at St. Louis, until, in June, 1812, when by act of Congress, the territory of Louisiana became the territory of Missouri. January 19, 1816, the legislature governing this territory passed a law making the common law of England the law of the territory. On March 2, 1819, Congress created the territory of Arkansas out of the Missouri territory, and preparatory to the admission of Missouri to statehood, and on March 6, 1820, an act was approved authorizing the people of Missouri territory to form a constitution and state government. After Missouri became a state Nebraska was a part of an unorganized "Indian country."

June 30, 1834, by an act of Congress all that part of the United States west of the Mississippi and not included in the states of Missouri and Louisiana or the territory of Arkansas was taken to be "Indian country" and its status specifically defined as between Whites and Indians. In 1832, Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth led an expedition over the Oregon Trail, and from then on numerous expeditions crossed this trail which took them very near to the present borders of Hall County.

Fremont's description of grand island The most important of the explorations of the Northwest, under the auspices of the government, were those of General John C. Fremont. His first party to pass through Nebraska by the Oregon Trail was in the summer of 1842, an expedition of twenty-seven men. Fremont's orders were "to explore and report upon the country between the frontiers of Missouri and the south pass in the Rocky Mountains and on the line of the Kansas and

Great Platte rivers." This was accomplished by the middle of August, and the party returned by the same route, reaching the junction of the north and south forks on the 12tli of September. The part of Fremont's journal that applies to Hall County is told in his own language, as follows :

On the morning of the 15th we embarked in our hide boat. Mr. Preuss and myself with two men. We dragged her over the sands for three or four miles, and then left her on the bar, and abandoned entirely all further attempts to navigate this river. The names given by the Indians are always remarkably appropriate ; and certainly none was ever more so than that which they have given to this stream - "The Nebraska, or Shallow River." Walking steadily the remainder of the day, a little before dark we over-took our people at their evening camp, about twenty-one miles below the junction. The next morning we crossed the Platte, and continued our way down the river bottom on the left bank, where we found an excellent plainly beaten road. On the 18th, we reached GRAND ISLAND, which is fifty-two miles long, with an average breadth of one mile and three quarters. It has on it some small eminences, and is sufficiently elevated to be secure from the annual floods of the river. As has already been remarked, it is well timbered, with an excellent soil, and recommends itself to notice as the best point for a military position on the Lower Platte.

[proposed] territory." The first real bill to organize the new Nebraska territory was introduced in Congress December 17, 1844, by Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. This bill failed to pass. In 1848 Douglas introduced a second bill, which also failed. In 1853 a third bill was likewise defeated. In 1854 a fourth in his reports, as hereinbefore indicated, spoke of the "Nebraska River," using the Otoe Indian name for the Platte, from the Otoe word "Ne-brathka," meaning "Flat Water." Secretary of War William Wilkins, in his report of November 30, 1844, says : "The Platte or Nebraska River being the central stream would very properly furnish a name to the

Nebraska bill, now called the "Nebraska-Kansas bill," was passed after a prolonged and bitter struggle and signed by President Franklin Pierce on May 30, 1854. In the Congress that had assembled in 1851-52, Willard P. Hall, a representative from the state of Missouri, had ofifered a bill having for its object the organization of the "Territory of the

Platte." A bill offered in February, 1853, called for the organization of the "Territory of Nebraska," and when the final measure went through, it bore the name of "Nebraska."

Territorial Government Prior To 1858

Francis Burt, of South Carolina, was the first governor of Nebraska territory. He arrived at Bellevue, October 7, 1854, and died there October 18. He had taken the oath of office on the 16th, before Chief Justice Ferguson, so was governor only two days. Thomas B. Cuming became acting governor. On November 23, a proclamation was issued ordering an election of delegate to congress and legislators. This first territorial election held on December 12, 1854, was too early for Hall County, but not very many years too early at that. On December 20 Acting Governor Cuming issued a proclamation fixing the time and place of holding the first session of the territorial assembly. The struggle between the new town of Omaha and the old town of Bellevue for the territorial capital was practically determined in favor of Omaha by Acting Governor Cuming's call to the legislature to meet in Omaha on January 16, 1855. Gov. M. W. Izard, .successor to Governor Burt, took office on February 23, 1855. Governor Izard resigned on October 25, 1857, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary Cuming. From January 12, 1858, to December 5, 1858, William A. Richardson was governor. He resigned on December 5, and the vacancy was filled by J. Sterling Morton, secretary, until May 2, 1859, when the new governor, Samuel W. Black, arrived. The organization of Hall County had been authorized on November 9, 1858, and on December 9th Acting Governor Morton performed one of his first official acts when he wrote the letter transmitting the appointments he had made for offices of the new county. From this point on, the matters pertaining to the territorial and state government that have particular application to Hall County will be treated mainly in the chapter on "Hall County's Part in the State and Federal Government," and incidentally in other chapters.