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CONTENTS.

THE "GREAT AMERICAN DESERT" A MYTH.

Early Views of the West-The Sahara of the United States disappears before the March of Civilization

PAGE 15
DISCOVERY OF NEBRASKA.

Coronado's Expedition in 1540-41--De Soto discovers the Mississippi--Father Marquette and La Salle--Nebraska twice owned by Spain, and twice by France--Ceded to the United States in 1803--Organized as a Territory in 1854--Admitted as a State in 1867--Prosperity

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TOPOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA.

Position--Area--Elevation -- Climate--Soil--Resources--Intelligence of the People

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CALIFORNIA GOLD EXCITEMENT IN 1848-50.

Gold discovered--Anxious to go--"Outfit" obtained--Farewell to Friends--Trip from South Bend to Old Fort Kearney--Perilous Passage over the "Big Muddy "--First Night in Nebraska--Beautiful Scene

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CONTENTS

ACROSS THE PLAINS.

Old Fort Kearney--Nebraska City--Platte River--Indians--New Fort Kearney -- Wolves-- Midnight Alarm--Chimney Rock--Court-house Rock--Buffaloes--Sweet Water--Summit of the Rocky Mountains--Green River--Bear River--Humboldt--Desert--Carson River--Summit of the Sierra Nevadas--Journey Ended

PAGE 56
CALIFORNIA IN 1850-52.

Disappointed Gold-seekers--Long Illness--Doctor-bill--Wickedness Rampant--Lynch-law--Summary Punishment the Palladium of the People--Vigilance Committees--Bold Robbery---The Victim captured and hung

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RETURN HOME BY WAY OF THE ISTHMUS.

San Francisco--San Diego--"Wonders of the Deep"--Acapulco-- Terrible Storm--Panama--Crossing the Isthmus--From Aspinwall to New York--Home

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PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS.

Memorable City and Church--John Brownfield--David Stover--Conversion--Parental Influence--Call to Preach--Attend Asbury University- Licensed to Preach--Join Conference--First Circuit--Second Circuit--Two Gracious Revivals--First Convert's--Triumphant Death--Ordained Deacon--Bishop Waugh

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ATTENTION TURNED TO THE WEST.

Fascinations of the West--Bellevue Mission offered Us--Acceptance--Adieu to Friends--We reach St. Louis--Up the "Big Muddy "--Arrive in Omaha

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THE PIONEER EVANGEL.

Methodism Cosmopolitan--Missionaries sent to Oregon in 1834--Planning to capture Kansas and Nebraska for Christ--The Territories organized--The Bishops send out W. H. Goode as a Scout--Our Superintendency an Element of Power--Kansas and Nebraska Conference organized--Quantrell burns the City of Lawrence--Second Conference--Bishop Ames and Dr. Poe on the Missouri River--A Heroine--A Sermon instead of a Dance--The Third Conference

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FIRST WORK IN NEBRASKA.

Crude Ideas of Nebraska--Bellevue--Story of a Diamond--How the People viewed Us--Hunting for a Town without Houses--First Sermon in Nebraska--Wild Speculation--Its Demoralizing Effects--First Quarterage received--Glad of Green Pumpkins--Thankful for Potatoes and Salt--Hospitality of Friends

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OMAHA.

When Founded--Indian Tradition of the Name--Amusing Thrilling Incidents--George Francis Train--Moving In an Ox-wagon--Indians--First Methodist Episcopal Church--Ride on Horseback: Two Hundred Miles to Conference--Falls City in 1860--John Brown--The Conference divided

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CONTENTS


FIRST NEBRASKA CONFERENCE.

Members.--Statistics--" Crowned Ones "--Martyr Spirit Still in the Church--Nebraska City District in 1861--A Fearful Ride in the Cold--Popgun Elder--S. P. Majors -- Bellevue Conference -- Bishop Simpson--Crossing the Platte in a Skiff--Laura Beatty--An Awful Tragedy--A Death-bed Repentance

PAGE 182
CIVIL WAR INCIDENTS.

The Dark Cloud--The Rainbow of Promise--National Prosperity--"Jayhawkers "--Ordered to Halt--Campmeeting near Falls City--Bloody Fray--Dave Stephenson

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LINCOLN.

Location--Salt Basins--First Settlers--Indians--First Sermon in the County--Elder Young--Lancaster--Visit to the New Town--Act providing for the Change of the Capital--Lot Sales--First Legislature in the New Capitol--First Methodist Episcopal Church--Other Churches

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ONE OF THE EARLY PIONEERS.

Rev. Z. B. Turman, the First Preacher in Lancaster County--Salt Creek Circuit--Great Revival--Coon-meat--Preaching to "Spotted Horse" and His Warriors--The Captive Squaw and Her Sad Fate--A Mush-and-milk Tea--Indian Troubles--The "New Ulm Massacre"

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DISTRICT INCIDENTS.

Eleventh Nebraska Conference--Bishop Ames--Old Sermons--U. P. R. R. completed--Rapid Growth of the Church--Hastings--Overtaken in a Fearful Storm--Three Memorable Quarterly Meetings--Sad Death of a Worldling--The Dutchman's Curse--The Confused Hostess--No Desire to Dance

PAGE 244
FURTHER ACCOUNT OF DISTRICT WORK.

Marvelous Growth--Privations and Toils of the Preachers--The Christmas-box--Touching Incident--Conference of 1873--Bishop Andrews--Conference of 1874--Bishop Bowman--Dr. J. M. Reid--Conference of 1875--Bishop Gilbert Haven--His Triumphant Death--Rev. George Worley

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THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Appointed to Omaha District--Columbus--Osceola--Rising City--David City--The Work in Omaha--Conference at Falls City--Bishop Foster--Appointed the Second Time to Nebraska City District--A Remarkable Meeting--West Nebraska Mission formed--Dr. T. B. Lemon--Division of the Conference

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GRASSHOPPER INCIDENTS.

Their Origin--Depredations in all Ages--An Atheist renounces His Atheism--Wonderful Answers to Prayer--A Touching Incident--Another Atheist changed--Annie Wittenmyer -- Assistance from the East--Mrs. M. E. Roberts--Reflex Influence of Work done for Others--Man's Weakness and God's Power

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BEATRICE.

Location--Founded in 1857--Emigrants on a Missouri Steamer organize a Colony--Beatrice in 1861--Albert Towle--Governor Butler--First Homestead--First Methodist Preacher--First Quarterly Meeting--Indians--Terrible Massacre--The Great Change

PAGE 319
YORK.

Location--First Settlers--First Grave in the County--Methodist Class organized--David Baker--Buffaloes invade the county--Friendship of the Early Settlers--W. B. Morgan--First Quarterly Meeting--Other Churches--Appointed to York Station 1883--Great Revival--The Little Girl and the Dark Cloud--Second Year--Another Great Revival--The New Church--Subscription--Third Year--Church completed--Dedication by Bishop Warren

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METHODIST EDUCATION IN NEBRASKA UNIFIED.

Methodist Schools in Nebraska During the Past--The Nebraska Wesleyan University

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METHODISM'S DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINE REVIVED.

What the Doctrine is--The Great Revival--History of the Bennett Camp--meeting

PAGE 373

THE DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINE EXAMINED

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