Solitary Place Made Glad - H. T. Davis

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 CAPITAL--FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH--OTHER CHURCHES

N the present chapter I wish to sketch the history of Lincoln, giving a brief outline of its rise, growth, and prosperity.
Lincoln is the county-seat of Lancaster County, and the capital of the State of Nebraska; it is fifty miles west of the Missouri River, and stands on the banks of Salt Creek. The beautiful capitol crowns the highest elevation of the plateau on which the city stands. A circle of low hills, a few miles away, surrounds the city. The scenery on every hand is the most charming. In full view, to the west of the city, are the " Salt Basins." On a bright summer day--and for these Nebraska is noted--these basins resemble large bodies of limpid water; they are, however, level surfaces of compact earth, covered with a layer of "saline

LINCOLN.

213

crystal, and intersected with tiny rivers of brine flowing into the creek," from which the creek derives its name and character. They were discovered in 1856, and their value was at once recognized. Long before Lincoln was founded, the early settlers came for many miles to these basins, and made the salt necessary for their yearly supply. The brine from the springs and rivulets is very strong, and in a short time the farmer, by boiling the brine, could make salt sufficient to last during the year. When traveling the Nebraska City District from 1861 to 1865, I found that many of the settlers from Johnson, Pawnee, Gage, and other counties, came here, made and laid in their yearly supply of salt. In no distant day these basins will, without doubt, be a source of great revenue to the State.
In 1850, when passing over the Plains, we crossed Salt Creek, eight miles south of Lincoln, at a point now called Saltillo. Here we camped during the night, little dreaming that near where we were, in a few short years, would rise one of the greatest cities of the West, and the capital of one of the largest and richest States of our Union. Six years later, the first settlement was made in the county, a few miles further south, by Mr. John D. Prey and his sons. I first met some members of the family in 1861, at a quarterly meeting held at the residence of James Eatherton.

Mrs. Prey was a devoted Christian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Preys reached Salt Creek June 15, 1856. At that time the land in the county was not surveyed; the following year the land-office was established in Nebraska City. The same year the county of Lancaster was partly surveyed, and Mr. Prey and his sons located their claims. For some time they were the only people living anywhere near the salt basins.
During the first summer all the settlers could do was to break land; as they came late in the season, they were unable to raise any crops. In 1857 very little was raised; but in 1858 a large crop was harvested; prosperity dawned upon the settlers, and the future began to look bright and hopeful.
In the early history of the county, when the settlers numbered only eight or ten, the first Indian scare occurred. It was in 1857, when a man by the name of Davis settled near Saltillo. This man had a vain and wicked desire to kill an Indian, and it was not long until an opportunity of gratifying this unholy desire was given him. Without provocation he deliberately shot down an innocent Indian. The Indians were numerous, and when they found that one of their number had been killed in cold blood by a white man, they at once went upon the war-path. Who could blame them?

     The white man was the aggressor. The settlers were alarmed, and fled to Weeping Water Falls. Here they remained for two weeks. The Indians, however, soon quieted down, and the settlers returned to their claims.
     In 1859, another Indian scare occurred. A band of Cheyennes and Arapahoes came to the salt-basins, evidently bent on mischief. Unexpectedly they reached the homestead of Mr. Prey when the men folks were all away. Mrs. Prey, her daughter Rebecca, twelve years old, and two boys, aged eight and fifteen years, were alone. When the Indians appeared, Rebecca was some distance from the house, and the Indians were about to seize and carry her away a captive; but their plans were frustrated by the courage of the mother, and the timely arrival of the male members of the family. They did but little damage as they passed on to the north.
     Five years afterwards, in 1864, another Indian scare took place. The bloodthirsty Sioux were on the war-path. They were coming from the west, killing and plundering and laying waste the country as they came, and the settlers of Lancaster County fled in terror to the east. A few of the men, however, determined to remain until they should see the Indians approach. Some days elapsed; but the murderous Sioux did not put in an appearance. Then these brave

men, eight in all, determined to go west until they learned something definite with regard to the Red-skins. Mounted, and armed to the teeth with rifles and revolvers, they started in pursuit of the foe. The party was composed of Captain W. T. Donivan, John S. Gregory, E. M. Warens, Richard Wallingford, James Morgan, John P. Loder, Aaron Wood, and one other. With most of them I was personally acquainted. They pushed on to the west until they reached the valley of the Blue, near where Milford now stands; and as they were looking for the wily Sioux, they saw a single Indian, peeping over the hill, some distance to their rear. The lone Indian, looking over the hill, boded no good to the whites. They were fully convinced that he was a picket-guard, and that near by, in all probability, there was a whole tribe of warriors. They determined to ride back, but had only started, when, from the low ground, there suddenly rose up before them several hundred well-mounted and well-armed Indians. The Indians were right across their path, and the savage Red-men began to bear down upon the little band of whites. It was a critical moment, and the cheeks of the brave men for once were blanched. Death seemed inevitable. They determined to make a desperate effort to escape, and, in the attempt, to sell their lives as dear as possible. They strapped their

rifles to their shoulders, and, with drawn revolvers, they started, determined to force a passage through the line of well-armed savages or die in the attempt. Just as they were starting, the Indians put up a white flag; and one of their number, throwing away his gun in token of friendship, came forward to meet them, and as he came up to them said: "How? Me no Sioux; me Pawnee. Me no fight white man." What a relief it was to the whites! It proved to be true; they were a band of Pawnee warriors, on the war-path against the Sioux; and when they first saw the white men they supposed they were a party of Sioux stragglers. The Pawnees passed on after the Sioux, and the whites returned to their homes, glad to let Indians fight Indians.
     Among the first settlers who came after the Prey family were W. T. Donivan, James Eatherton, John Cadman, R. Wallingford, W. E. Keys, E. Warens, J. A. Wallingford, and John S. Gregory. John Dee came about the same time the Preys did. As late as 1860-63 a buffalo might occasionally have been seen, and over the prairies where Lincoln now stands herds of antelope gamboled; coyotes were numerous, and their shrill bark was often heard, especially during-the night.
     In the history of Lincoln we find the following about Mr. John S. Gregory: "During th
     19

winter of 1863 Mr. John S. Gregory, not having any other business to attend to, gave attention to destroying some of the numerous wolves which then infested this region. He would insert a few grains of strychnine into little balls of fat, and then pass around a large circuit and drop the balls into the snow. The wolves would follow the trail, and snap up every ball. Every wolf that swallowed a ball was dead in a short time. He would then skin the animals, their pelts being valuable at that time. The carcasses he piled up in cords, north of Lincoln, to prevent the poisoning of domestic animals by eating the flesh. They were frozen stiff and stark, and corded up like wood. Toward spring Mr. Gregory had a couple of cords of carcasses piled up at one place. Then a lot of Pawnee Indians came along, and stopped near the cords of wolf-carcasses. Mr. Gregory, fearing they might eat the wolves, rode over to warn them of the danger. He found the squaws and papooses lugging the wolf-carcasses into camp, and he at once expostulated with them by signs, trying to make them understand it was dangerous to eat the wolves. The old chief thought he was demanding the return of the wolves because they were his property, and, at the chief's command, the squaws and papooses lugged the carcasses back, and piled them up again. They were not well

pleased at the prospect of losing a feast, and returned the wolf-meat with long faces. Finally, a member of the tribe, who could speak a little English, came along, and Mr. Gregory explained to him that he did not care for the wolf-carcasses, but did not want the Indians to be poisoned. This explanation was made to the Indians, who set up a big guffaw, and the squaws at once began to gather up the wolf-carcasses and take them to camp, laughing and indulging in expressions of' great satisfaction. They cooked up the last one of the wolves, and had a great feast. Mr. Gregory learned from the interpreter that the Indians were well acquainted with the use of strychnine in killing wolves, and were in the habit of eating animals killed in this way. They had no fear of the drug, and suffered no apparent damage from eating the wolves."
In the fall of 1859 the settlers met under the shade of a large elm-tree, standing on the bank, of Salt Creek, near where the B. and M. roundhouse now stands, to effect a county organization. A committee was appointed to select a site for a county-seat and lay out a town. The committee selected the present site of Lincoln, and called it "Lancaster." For some time "Lancaster" was only a paper town, without inhabitants. The same year John Cadman settled in the southern part of the county. Subsequently he was

made county judge, and ever afterwards was familiarly known as "Judge Cadman." The writer first met him at a quarterly meeting, held in 1861, south of Saltillo. The meeting was held in the private house of James Eatherton, on the bank of Salt Creek, twelve miles south of the city of Lincoln. The judge was deeply interested in laying the foundations of the Church in the new Territory. He was not only an active Church member in that early day, but was an enterprising citizen as well. He took an active part in having what was known as "The Steam-wagon Road" built from Nebraska City west to Fort Kearney. A steam-wagon was invented, and the inventor brought this wagon up the Missouri River to Nebraska City. When it landed, a most profound sensation was produced. The most intense excitement prevailed among the citizens. It was thought by many that it would create a complete revolution in traveling and freight-carrying over the plains. Streams were bridged, hills graded, sloughs filled, and a good road was made for the "steam-wagon." Although the "steam-wagon" proved an utter failure, and never amounted to anything at all, a most excellent highway was built, and the people living along the road were more than compensated for their labor and expense. Judge Cadman took an active part also in having the capital of the

State changed, and located in Lancaster County. For many years he lived in the city, and aided in building up the new capital. He is now living in California, in the city of Los Angeles.
     The first sermon ever preached near where the city of Lincoln now stands was by Rev. Z. B. Turman, in 1857. A detailed account of Brother Turman's work may be found in the following chapter.
     In 1863, Elder J. M. Young, whose name is familiar to all the early settlers of this county, a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, located at this point with a colony. Elder Young organized a Methodist Protestant society, and the society afterwards erected a large stone church--one of the first church edifices built in the city of Lincoln. He also organized societies at different places in the county. The design of Elder Young and his colony was to locate and build up a denominational school of high grade. A seminary was founded, and a stone building erected, which stood where the State Journal block now stands. The seminary, however, did not prove a success.
     In 1866, I visited Lancaster, and spent a Sabbath in the new town, which had at that time half a dozen houses. I preached on Sunday morning in a little unfinished school-house to a small congregation of attentive and intelligent

listeners, little dreaming that this unpretentious town was so soon to become one of the mightiest of Western cities, and the capital of one of the most thrifty and populous States in the American Union. I never was more impressed in my life with the beauty of any place than I was with Lancaster and the whole surrounding country. It seemed that nature had never been more prodigal in lavishing beauty and attractions upon any place than the country where the city of Lincoln now stands. I returned to my home in Nebraska City, and immediately located some land near the new town.
On June 20, 1867, a bill passed the Legislature providing for the removal and permanent location of the capital of Nebraska. Omaha was then the seat of government. The bill, of course, had its bitter enemies, and was fought to the very last with all the ability and energy its opponents could command. The contest was a long and heated one, full of acrimony, and no small amount of ill-feeling was engendered. The bill provided, first, "That the governor, secretary of state, and auditor be, and are hereby, appointed commissioners for the purpose of locating the seat of government and the public buildings of the State." And second, "On or before July, 1867, the commissioners, or a majority of them, shall select from the lands belonging to the State within the

following limits, to-wit, the County of Seward, the south half of the County of Saunders and Butler, and that portion of the County of Lancaster lying north of the south line of Township Nine, a suitable site of not less than six hundred and forty acres lying in one body, for a town, due regard being had to its accessibility from all parts of the State, and its general fitness for a capital. They shall immediately survey, lay off, and stake out the said tract of land into lots, blocks, streets and alleys, and public squares or reservations for public buildings, which said town, when so laid out and surveyed, shall be named and known as Lincoln, and the same is hereby declared to be the permanent seat of government of the State of Nebraska, at which all of the public offices of the State shall be kept, and at which all of the sessions of the Legislature shall hereafter be held." The bill further provided that the State University and State Agricultural College should be united as one educational institution, and should be located upon a reservation selected by the commissioners in said "Lincoln," and the necessary buildings erected as soon as funds could be secured from the sale of lots donated to the State; and that the penitentiary of the State should be "located upon a reservation selected by the said commissioners in Lincoln or upon lands adjacent to said town of Lincoln."

     Immediately on the adjournment of the Legislature, the commissioners--Governor David Butler, Secretary T. P. Kennard, and Auditor John Gillespie--entered upon their duties. They traveled over the country, personally surveyed the lands from which the selection was to be made on which the new capital was to be located, and after a careful survey of all the lands, "due regard being had to its accessibility from all parts of the State," they selected as the future capital of the State of Nebraska the site on which the city of Lincoln now stands. The wisdom of that selection has been vindicated by the marvelous growth of the city, and the general prosperity of the State. Lincoln is to-day the great railroad center of the State, easy of access from every part of our commonwealth.
     The city was platted into lots, blocks, and reservations according to the provisions of the act of the Legislature, and the following September the lots were offered at public sale. I had the privilege of attending this public sale, and saw the first lot in the city of Lincoln sold at auction.
     There were only a few houses then in the new town. Many felt that accommodations for those attending the sales would be limited, hence they came with tents and covered wagons, bringing with them their own provisions. The public square, where the Government post-office now

stands, was covered with a heavy crop of prairie grass, and furnished a delightful camping-ground for those in attendance. Here they pitched their tents, and camped during the sales.
Judge Cadman kept the hotel in the stone house which was formerly the old stone seminary building. At this hotel the commissioners, the writer, and many friends from Nebraska City were entertained. No pains were spared by the judge and his large-hearted wife to make us all as comfortable as it was possible for us to be made under the circumstances. The three days of sale were memorable days, and will never be forgotten by those who were present. The first day was a gloomy one. During the forepart of the day there was a drizzling rain. There were not as many people present as was expected, and the commissioners felt as gloomy and sad as the weather looked dark and forbidding. In the afternoon we followed the commissioners to the northeast corner of the plat, and the first lot, in block one, was offered for sale. Governor Butler bid the minimum price. Rev. J. G. Miller overbid the governor twenty-five cents, and the first lot in the future great city of Lincoln was knocked down to him for forty dollars and twenty-five cents. The bidding in the afternoon, was very slow and dull. There was no enthusiasm whatever. But few were willing to take the risk of a purchase,

as the success of the scheme was a very doubtful one. Only a few lots were offered, when the governor announced the sales closed until the next day at nine o'clock. At the close of the first day's sales the success of the new project looked doubtful in the extreme. I think all the commissioners felt that the whole thing was a complete failure.
That night a syndicate was formed, mostly of men from Nebraska City, with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars. This amount the syndicate agreed to invest in lots, also to bid on every lot offered for sale. Rev. J. G. Miller agreed to invest fifteen hundred dollars in lots. Mr. James Sweet was authorized to bid for the syndicate. The sales began at nine o'clock, and the bidding at once became lively.
The people became enthusiastic, and the enthusiasm kept up during the whole day. The day closed most hopefully, eighteen thousand dollars worth of lots having been disposed of. The success of the wonderful undertaking was assured. Doubts and fears left the minds of the commissioners. Every one interested in the movement was jubilant. The dense cloud that had hung so long over the friends of the movement broke into fragments, scattered, and entirely disappeared, and the bright sun of future success poured his genial rays upon all. In a short time money enough

was secured from the sale of lots to build the new State-house.
     Plans and specifications for the new State-house were adopted by the commissioners. The contract for the building was at once let, and the foundation was laid before cold weather.
     There is an unwritten history connected with the carrying forward of this great undertaking, known only to the commissioners and a few of the older settlers of the county. At almost every step, from the very first, the commissioners were met with difficulties. Obstacle after obstacle rose before them, barrier after barrier impeded them in their progress. These obstacles, however, were overcome; these barriers, one after another, gave way before their untiring energy, and at last victory crowned their efforts. The building was ready for occupancy the following winter. All the State offices were moved from Omaha to Lincoln, and in January, 1869, the Nebraska State Legislature was held in the new capital.
     In the spring of 1868, "Lincoln" first appeared upon the Minutes of the Nebraska Annual Conference, and the writer was appointed pastor. The town contained a population of some two hundred souls. There was no parsonage, beautifully and richly furnished; no large society to greet the pastor and his family, and give them a royal welcome and a grand reception. The pastor

built his own house, and furnished it as best he could. While our house was being finished, Mrs. Davis did her cooking in the largest kitchen we ever had, and never once complained for the want of room. The ceiling was high, the floor beautifully carpeted with living green, the ventilation perfect, and our appetites of the very best. Here we lived a number of days in the most roomy apartment we ever had.
We found sixteen members of the Church, including men, women, and children, and a small church on Tenth Street, inclosed only. We found another thing we did not like so well. On this shell of a house we found what the little girl called "the latest improvement"--a four-hundred-dollar mortgage.
We went to work, finished the building, and consecrated it to the worship of Almighty God, Dr. W. B. Slaughter preaching the dedicatory sermon. At the end of one year the building became too small for the congregations. The trustees authorized the pastor to dispose of the church, and the next week I sold it to the School Board of the city for a school-house. We then built a frame building on M Street, on the lots given by the State to the Church. This building was afterwards enlarged. In this the congregation worshiped (sic) for a number of years. Finally it gave

way to the present elegant and massive church, known as "Saint Paul." The city grew rapidly from the beginning, and the Church kept pace with the material development of the city. Other denominations organized societies. Earnest, faithful pastors led on these societies, and soon good houses of worship were erected; and to-day the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Christians, and Roman Catholics, all have elegant churches--churches that would be an honor and a credit to any city of the land. The membership of our Church increased very rapidly, and soon we had a large society of intelligent, live, working members.
Among the first members were Simon C. Elliott, James Kimball and wife, A. K. White and wife, John Cadman and wife, J. Schoolcraft and wife, C. N. Baird and wife, A. J. Cropsey and wife, Mrs. W. Lamb, Mrs. Metcalf, Dr. Strickland and wife, and E. G. Coldwell and wife. That little handful has multiplied until, instead of one small church, there are seven, and the city has grown from a population of two hundred to near sixty thousand souls.
Though the beginnings were not very propitious, and the outlook was anything but flattering, yet the longer we remained the better pleased we became. We left the charge at the end of three

years with a membership of two hundred and two, and never had the privilege of serving a more pleasant people.
Lincoln is not only a city of commerce and of Churches, but a city of education. Here is located the State University, the Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Christian University, the Second Advent University, and other denominations are looking to Lincoln as the place to locate their universities. Here, where only thirty years ago the antelope gamboled, the buffalo roamed, the coyote barked, and the war-cry of the wild savage resounded, stands, a great city--the railroad center, the educational center, and the religious center of a great and powerful State. Prophecy is fulfilled. The desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose.


© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller.