UNIVERSITY CHAPEL, LINCOLN, NEBR.,     

   The society was called to order by Hon. R. W. Furnas, in the enforced absence of the president of the society. After roll call, which disclosed a quorum present, the minutes of the meetings of January 15 and 16, 1895, were read by the secretary and approved. The first paper of the evening was read by Rev. William Murphy, of Tecumseh, entitled "A Brief Sketch of the Life of Captain P. S. Real, of Sherman's Army." Hon. J. Q. Goss, of Bellevue, then gave a graphic account of "Bellevue: Its Past and Prevent;" after which Mr. I. A. Fort presented a carefully prepared paper on "Edward Morin, One of the Early Settlers of the Trans-Missouri Country." This ending the papers for the evening, the society went into business session. A telegram to ex-Governor Furnas, first vice-president of the Society, from the president of the society, Hon. J. Sterling Morton, was read, as follows:

"WASHINGTON, D. C., January 10, 1896.

"Robert W. Furnas, Brownville, Nebr.:   "Impossible for me to attend Historical Society meeting this year, but hope they will not condemn me for my absence. Have sent a paper to Mrs. Sawyer to be read.

"J. STERLING MORTON."

   The annual report of the secretary, containing some summaries from the librarian's report, was then read. An offer was made by Mr. Furnas, Mr. Stolley, and Mr. Harwood to contribute $5 each to purchase a bust of Hon. J. Sterling Morton, to be presented to the society.

   The report of the librarian was read and approved, as was also the report of the treasurer, Hon. C. H. Gere. Mr. J. Q. Goss presented a skull of an Indian chief found at Bellevue on the farm of Hon. B. R. Stouffer. Mr. W. H. Woods gave to the Society a gavel made from wood taken from old Fort Calhoun, or Fort Atkinson, as it was also called. The thanks of the society were extended to both of these gentlemen for their presents and thoughtful recognition of the society. The following names were then presented for membership in the society and received by unanimous ballot: Hon. H. C. Lindsey, Pawnee County; John W. Dixon, Nebraska City; W. R. Patrick, Bellevue; L. J. Abbott, Lincoln.
   The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year: J. Sterling Morton, president; Robert W. Furnas, first vice-president; W. S. Summers, second vice-president; C. H. Gere, treasurer; H. W. Caldwell, Secretary.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, First Vice-President.

UNIVERSITY CHAPEL, LINCOLN, NEB.,     
January 15, 1896.

   The society was called to order by Hon. Robert W. Furnas, first vice-president. Papers were then presented as follows: Rev. C. S. Harrison, on the "Ethics of Horticulture"; by the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, on "Taxation Then and Now,". read by Mrs. A. J. Sawyer in the absence of Mr. Morton. Mrs. Minick discussed from her own recollections the subject of "The Underground Railway in Nebraska." After this the society was favored with a very able paper by Major Fechet, on "The True Story of the Death of Sitting Bull." Mr. J. P. Dunlap, of Dwight, discussed, under the title of "Reminiscences," his recollections of early days in Nebraska.
   On motion of the secretary the thanks of the society were extended to all those who had prepared papers, and a request was made that copies of the same be furnished the society for publication, which was carried unanimously. The following

persons were then elected to membership in the society: Chancellor G. E. MacLean, Hon. Edward Morin, Major E. G. Fechet, Judge M. B. Reese, and Mr. A. S. Godfrey. As there was no more business, the society then adjourned.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, First Vice-President.

January 12, 1897.

   In the absence of the president, Hon. J. Sterling Morton, the society was called to order by Hon. R. W. Furnas, first vice-president. The call of the roll disclosed the presence of a quorum, but only a small minority of the active members of the society. The program of the evening was devoted to the general subject of the first territorial legislature, that of 1855.
   The opening paper was by the president of the society, and in his absence was read by Mrs. A. J. Sawyer. Then Mrs. Harriet S. MacMurphy, of Omaha, presented a paper on "The Women of 1855." Both of these papers were able, and shed much light on the conditions in Nebraska at that date. A biography of Hon. A. J. Poppleton, in the absence of its author, was read by Mr. A. S. Harding. Mr. Barrett then presented a very interesting general sketch of the men who composed the Nebraska legislature of 1855. After some general announcements, the society adjourned to meet at 7:30 P. M., January 13, for the election of officers and the transaction of such other general business as should come before the society.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, First Vice-President.

UNIVERSITY CHAPEL, January 13, 1897.

   The secretary's report for the last annual meeting was read and approved. Mr. Barrett then presented his report as Libra-

rian, which was received and placed on file. The report of the treasurer, Hon. C. H. Gere, was presented, audited, and approved. It showed a total balance on hand January 12, 1897, of $1,146.14.
   The following communication, presented by Prof. C. E. Bessey, was received from the Nebraska Academy of Sciences:
   1. That Professor Bessey be requested to lay before the State Historical Society a plan to incorporate the proceedings of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences with the publications of the Society.
   2. That the Historical Society be requested to give the matter immediate attention.
   3. In case this proposition is accepted, the Academy hereby pledges itself to use its best endeavors to further the several undertakings of the Historical Society.
   Adopted by the executive committee, jointly with the legislative committee, January 13, 1897.

G. D. SWEZEY,    
Sec. Nebr. Acad. of Sciences.   

   After some discussion by Professor Bessey, Mr. Hartley, and Hon. R. W. Furnas, the request was acceded to and the secretary empowered to arrange details for a joint publication. Under this plan the forthcoming volume of the Historical Society will contain some seventy-five or eighty pages of matter furnished by the Academy of Sciences.
   The following names were presented for membership: Frank E. White,. Plattsmouth; A. E. Pope, Red Cloud; Mrs. Laura N. Dickey, Palmyra; Thomas P. Morgan, Palmyra; H. B. Ward, Lincoln; E. H. Barbour, Lincoln; Dr. P. L. Hall, Mead; Dr. C. F. Steward, Auburn; E. F. Stephens, Crete; Dr. G. W. Wilkinson, 1704 Washington street, Lincoln; W. E. Stewart, Lincoln; F. W. Taylor, Lincoln.
   The rules were suspended and the secretary instructed to cast the unanimous ballot for those above named, which was done, and they were declared duly elected.
   The election of officers resulted as follows: Hon. J. Sterling

Morton, president; Hon. R. W. Furnas, first vice-president; Hon. W. S. Summers, second vice-president; Hon. O. H. Gere, treasurer; Prof. H. W. Caldwell, secretary.
   The first paper of the evening was by Mr. Roscoe Pound, on the "Organization of the Sons and Daughters of Nebraska." This was followed by a paper by Hon. J. Sterling Morton, on "Then and Now: 1855 and 1897." The latter paper was read by the secretary.
   At this point an interesting discussion took place concerning early territorial legislation, participated in by Judges S. B. Pound, M. B. Reese, J. R. Webster, and J. H. Broady.
   A vote of thanks was extended by the society to those who had presented papers and taken part in the discussions, and a request was also made for their papers for publication. It was suggested that a picture of Elder J. M. Young ought to be procured by the society, and the secretary was instructed to see what could be done in regard to the matter.
   There being no other business to come before the society, an adjournment took place until the next annual meeting.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, First Vice-President.

LINCOLN, January 12, 1897.

Hon. J. Sterling Morton, President of the Nebraska State Historical society,

   SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the receipts and disbursements of the society for the year ending January 12, 1897:

Approved.

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