Nebr. State Historical Society
lattemoutb
ourna
VOL. NO. XLVII
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA. THURSDAY. AUG. 27. 1931.
NO. 60
2 be
r
Ask Removal
of Wm. Bowen
from Hospital
Sheriff Reed Notified That Prisoner
Patient Has Become Hard to Care
For and Removal Asked
From Monday's raly
Sheriff Bert Reed was notified to
day by t'e staff of the University
hospital at Omaha that William
Bowen. who is there recovering from
the effects of serious injuries, was
proving a very difficult patient to
deal with and requesting that the
authorities take some s.eps to have
their prisoner removed.
Bowen is suffering from injuries
to his back and spine received in an
auto wreck near Ellenberg. Wash
ington, which led to his capture and
arrest on a charge of forgery wiiich
he is wanted for in this city. The
prisoner was brought back to Ne
braska by Pat Reed and as his con
dition was still serious at that time
lie was lodged in the University hos
pital for treatment pending his be
ing arraigned on the charges pre
ferred against him in this city.
The prisoner is still far from well
but has developed into a patient
that has caused much trouble for
the officers and nurses at the hospi
tal. It will probably be necessary to
bring the prisoner here and lodge
him in the local jail where he will
remain until his arraignment and
trial in the court here.
Bcwerf won considerable fame in
criminal circles by his widespread
passing of fraudulent traveler checks
which were circulated from Daven
port. Iowa, to the west coast and
which amounted to a great many
hundred dollars, purchasing a car
at Davenport with the bum traveler
checks.
When being transported from the
west to Omaha the prisoner gave Mr.
Reed, his guard, a great deal of trou
ble and has apparently gone the
limit with the hospital authorities
at Omaha, who are more than anx
ious to have him removed. If it is
necessary to bring the prisoner here
he will be forced to take treatment
and care from the other prisoners
at the jail as he has already cost
the county a great deal and the of
fice of the sheriff does rot believe
that further outlay on his care
would be justified outside of the
medical attention that the county
physician can give him at the local
jail.
GUESS ON SAND WEIGHT
For the pasf week a large sack
of sand, suspended from the leg of
one of the Oshkosh overalls, has
been or display in the men's furnish
ing department of the H. M. Soen
nichsen Co.. has attracted a great
deal of attention.
The weight of the sand was to be
guessed and the successful ones were
to receive a pair of the overalls.
That there was much interest, was
shown bv the fact that there were
44 4 guesses received and six were
successful.
The correct weight was eighty
four pounds and this was guessed by
George Mayabb. FreO Buechler.
Oliver Baker, Allan Clark. H. A.
Hart. Herman Tiekotter. The win
ners will each receive a pair of these
celebrated overalls and which will
come in very handy to them as a
working garment.
TO ATTEND FUNERAL
From Tuesday's ranv
This afternoon James M. Robert
son, past grand high priest of the
R. A. M. of Nebraska and past grand
commander of the Knight Templar
of Nebraska, with his son. Attorney
William A. Robertson and William
F. Evers, superintendent of the Ne
braska Masonic Home, were in Oma
ha to attend the funeral services of
the late J. Dean Ringer, deputy
grand master of the A. F. & A. M.
of Nebraska. Mr. James M. Robert
son is one of the honorary pall bear
ers at the funeral, they comprising
distinguished members of the Ma
sonic order.
PROVES FINE ENTERTAINER
Miss Janet Westover of this city,
who has so often pleased Plattsmouth
audiences with her clever readings,
is fast becoming a favorite over the
county, as was shown by her appear
ance at the Old Settlers reunion
last week. M'ss Westover was on the
program Friday for two of her pleas
ing offerings and so delighted was
the audience that she was asked to
again apnear on the Saturday pro
gram and repeated her success of the
previous day. This is certainly a
very pleasing recognition of the un
usual talent of the little lady.
MARRIED AT OMAHA
From Wednesday's
A marriage of
Rally
interest to many
Plattsmouth people was that of Miss
Nelle Munsigh to Cecil Leonard Bul
ger, both of Omaha, which occurred
W Snesday morning in the Episcopal
Chan h. Mr. Bulger is a grandson
of Mrs. v. V. Leonard of this city.
COURT HOUSE QUIET
From Tuesday's Pally
The court house today was as de
serted as during a political com
paign or the ccunty t'ar, a large
number of the officials being out of
the city in attendance at the Ameri
can Legion state convention. County
Judge A. H. Duxbury. County Treas
urer John E. Turner. County Attor
ney W. G. Kieck and Clerk of the
District Court C. E. Ledgway. all be
ing among the vets who took the
highway early today for Fremont,
while Sheriff Bert Reed was out on
his official duties in the county, leav
ing only Miss Lillian White, register
of deeds. County Superintendent Hist
Alpha Peterson and County Clerk
George Sayles to hold the court
house with the assistance of the dep
uties and clerks.
Wedding of
Well Known Local
Man in Omaha
Clifford
Mrs.
Forbes of This
Anna Carev at
City Weds
Trinity
Baptist Church. Omaha.
The wedding of one of the popu
lar and well known young men of
this community occurred on Friday
evening at the parsonage of the Trin
ity Baptist church. South Side. Om
aha, when Mrs. Anna Carey of that
city was united in marriage to Clif
ford Forbes of this city.
The wedding was very quiet, the
marriage lines being read by the
Rev. Allen, pastor of the Trinity
church and the ceremony witnessed
by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Burkamp.
close friends of the contracting
couple.
The newlyweds came to this city
Saturday evening and are now set
tled at their home here and where
they are expecting to reside in the
future.
The bride has made her home in
Omaha for the greater part of her
lifetime and is a ladv held in high
esteem bv a very lare circle of
friends in the community where she
has lived for so many years.
The groom is one of the local
world war veterans, born and reared
in this community and has been en
gaged in the plumbing and tinning
work for a great many years, being
at the present time in the employe of
the Plattsmouth Water Co.. in their
plumbing department. He is a young
man of the highest standing in the
community and who has a very large
circle of friends.
The friends of this estimable
couple are joining in their well
wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Forbes for
many years of happiness and success
in the years to come.
AN UNSOLVED CRIME
From Tuesday's Tiatty
While Judge C. L. Graves was
gaged in looking over some of
en
his old time papers today he discovered
among others a copy of a reward no
tice that had been issued by the then
sheriff. C. D. Quinton. for the capture
of the murderer of Mrs. Joseph Shera.
a pioneer of Cass county. This crime
has been one of the unsolved mys
teries of Cass county, the crime be
ing committed twenty-one years ago
today. August 25. 1910, and to this
day there ha been no trace of the
murderer or murderers.
Mrs. Shera lived in the old frame
store buildiner that was the last sur
viving building of the once
thriving town of Rock Bluffs, the
husband having operated a store
there for many years and at his
death the wife continuing the busi
ness. She had slept at the home of her
son, some distance away and on the
morning of the 25th of August had
started as usual for her store and
carrying with her a satchel contain
ing some money, estimated at $50 or
$75 and with the intention of going
to Omaha to purchase goods and also
to visit a daughter. It was not until
Friday that the relatives found that
she was not at Omaha, and a search
was started, the party visiting the
store and finding Mrs. Shera on the
floor of one of the rooms, she having
apparently been shot as she opened
the door in the rear of the building.
There were three bullet wounds in
th back of the head and from the in
dications the aged woman had been
dead for many hours. Mrs. Shera had
with her some of her cherished
jewelry and which with the satchel
had been taken.
Untiring search was made by the
sheriff and officers over many months
hut aside from a few tracks around
a lilac bush in the grounds where
Ihe killer had evidently laid in wait
for the victim. There were no clues.
On this twenty-first anniversary the
crime is still as deep a mystery as
the day it was committed.
MINISTERS MEET HERE
A group of some twelve ministers
of the German Evangelical church
who form a monthly bible study cir
cle, met here Tuesday afternoon at
the St. Paul's Evangelical church.
Rev. O. G. Wichmann being the hos
tess to the members of the party.
There were ministers present from
Nebraska City, Talmage. McWilliams,
Omaha, Council Bluffs and Syracuse.
Telephones
Play a Large
Part on Farms
Survey of Territory of Lincoln T.
T. Co., Shows Larre Par; of
Farms Have Service.
From wednesaav s Dally
Farming in Nebraska in 1931 is
unlike the same industry 50 or even
10 years ago. Today, farming just
as any other business, must keep
abreast with the times. There is no
room in the agricultural program to
day for the farmer who is not alive
to his possibilities.
In this age of improved farming
methods when the farmer puts a
price on his time the telephone plays
an all important Dart in his daily
program.
Due to the necessary distance that
the farmer lives from the market and
distribution centers, he must have
means of placing himself in constant
touch with the quick chancing mar
ket quotations upon which he must
depend. The farmer alone must de
pend upon price for his produce
quoted by an outside agencv. He is
not in a position to set his own price.
Therefore, with this in mind he must
sell when the market is at its best.
just as tne plow ana tne binder are
keynotes in agricultural production:
so the telephone is the kevnofe of
agricultural distribution. More farm
products are bought and sold over
the telephone than any other agency.
Here in Nebraska this is true in a
greater degree than in some other
states. Nebraska's agriculture is so
widely diversified that the farmer
does not depend upon one single crop
for his source of income but has di
vided interests.
In the 22 counties in Southeastern
Nebraska, which comprise the Lin
coln Telephone & Telegraph com
pany's territory there are a total of
4 2.477 farms. Of this number, less
than 40.000 are occupied either by
owners or tenants. In other words
more than 2.000 farms in this area
are either unimproved or, if there is
a nouse on tne tarm it is not oc
cupied. Of special interest are the figures
which show a development of 84
telephones for every 10 farms in the
territory served by the Lincoln Tele
phone : Telegraph company. In oth
er words S5T of the occupied farms
in this territory have telephones.
According to this survey the Lin
coln cunpany operates 23.300 rural
telephones while 50 other telephone
companies located in this same terri
tory operate a total of 10,714 rural
telephones. This development is sig
nificant for it indicates clearly that
on the farm where home and place
of business are combined, the tele
phone has become a daily necessity.
Another important phase of this
survey indicates that Nebraska ranks
second as compared with other state?
of the union in rural telephone de
velopment and the number of tele
phones on farms. This is significant
showing that in Nebraska telephone
companies are furnishing the very
highest type of rural telephone ser
vice at the least possible cost.
A study of the survey shows that
in practically all the rural areas
served by this company the telephone
lines are metallic; that is two wires
in place of one. This type of con
struction eliminates all noise and
cross-talk and makes available to
the telephone user on the farm the
same clear, speedy and dependable
telephon srvic for both local and long
distanc as the subscriber in town re
ceives. Metallic service in rural areas Is
a recent development which has come
as the result of a demand for better
telephone service on the farm, also,
because metallic lines afford protec
tion against inductives interference
from electric light and power lines
which in numerous instances parallel
the telephone lines. Without having
them metallicized they would be
noisy and it would be impossbile for
a rural subscriber to use his tele
phone with any degree of satisfac
tion. A wide variety of uses of the tele
phone on the farm is shown in this
survey. As stated by many rural
housewives, farm life is much more
attractive, and the work so much
more pleasant with a telephone. It
not only is a means of vanishing
lonesomeness but is a means of pro
tection when the hsuband is away,
for the telephone will summon help
in any emergency.
WIN BALI, GAME
Tuesday afternoon a group of the
high school boys from this city jour
neyed down to Murray to engage a
youthful team of that place and as
the result of the struggle, the locals
carried off the honors by the score of
24 to 10. In the opening of the game
the Murray team benefited by many
over throws on the part of the Platts
mouth aggregation, but in the last
innings the locals forged ahead to
win the battle. Among those who
participated were Clarence Forbes,
Kenneth Armstrong. Henry Donat.
Stuart Porter, Maynard McCleary,
Perry Ronne, William Jensen, Wil
liam Wetenkamp. Robert and Rich
ard Hirz.
Advertise regularly persistently
for that's the way to get results.
GOOD GAME SUNDAY
Richard Herold, manager of the
Plattsmouth Merchants, has secured
for the baseball game here on Sun
day, tne soutn &uie Merchants, one
ol the fast organizations of that citv.
j The Merchants have had a goo'd sea
son and with the -hifts that have
, been made in the local team there
should be a fast game and one that
will give the fans a treat for their
money.
The locals phased a fast game at
Papillion Sunday Id lose by the score
ot 5 to 0 but the game was one that
wma filled with some real ball play
ing, although the local players s;ate
the umpiring was not so good.
Walt Connors did the hurling Sun
day and will be on hand to face his
old team, the Sonth Side Merchants
here on the coning Sunday. With
Walt at his best be con make any of
the opponents set up and take no
tice as the fans here well recall from
the past.
Mrs. C. A. Rosen
crans New Head
Legion Auxiliary
Plattsmouth Lady Selected at Fre
mont Meeting Today Long
Been Active IB Society.
From Wednesuiy Taliv
The American Legion Auxiliary at
their state convention at Fremont
today named as the president of the
organization. Mrs. Clayton Rosen
crans of this city, who has for the1
past two years served as the chair
man of the rehabilitation depart
ment of the state organization. The
choice came as a very strong move
ment in the organization for this
very talented lady, her name having
been mentioned in" this connection at
the convention last year.
Mrs. Rosencrans has been a very
active figure in the Auxiliary of the
state since its organization, being
one of the early members of the
Plattsmouth unit. While serving as
president of the local unit Mrs.
Rosencrans huilt the organization to
one of the leading branches in the
state and won a great deal of recog
nition for her wori jn this activity.
The new state president was se
lected as president of the first dis
trict organization and served in this
capacity for two years and was then
tendered the important position of
chairman of the state rehabilitation
committee, one of the most active
departments of the Auxiliary, in
which office she has been untiring
in her work and has been in touch
with every unit in the state and had
contacts with the hundreds of dis
abled Nebraska veterans in the hos
pitals in all parts of the country,
seeing that they were- remembered
through the Auxiliary on Christmas
and during the year.
The election of Mrs. Rosencrans
brings a great deal of pleasure to
the community here where her activ
ities have been numerous, she being
the secretary of the local Red Cross
and as county probation agent, serv
ing as the head of relief work here
and caring for the needs of many
hundreds it: this capacity in the past
two years in seeing that they were
clothed and fed and making personal
investigation of cases that came in
the line of relief work.
The local American Legion as well
as the Plattsmouth unit of the Aux
iliary is especially proud of the honor
that has come to our townswoman.
a recogni ion that is well bestowed
on one of the untiring workers in
the state Auxiliary.
The Jo irnal joins in the commun
ity congratulations to Mrs. Rosen
crans in her office and wish success
in every way to her term in the pres
idency of this service organization.
COMPLETING PAINTING WORK
Ralph Wever and Fretl Arm
strong, who have had charge of the
painting work at the school build
ings, are now completing their tasks
and getting the various rooms in
shape for the opening of the regular
term of s hool which opens on Tues
day. Sep mber Mh. The work has
i taken some time as the redecorating
program included the high school
auditorium which has not been re
decorated since the completion of
the building in 1918.
CAPTURES TARANTULAS
Two very large tarantulas, which
had come in shipments of fruit from
the tropics, were captured at the
Black & White grocery store here on
Saturday. These large specimens
were captured after a very interest
ing battle by Ernest Zitka. one of
the employes at lite Black & White.
They make a fine showing of the
very dangerous member of the spider
family which is a terror in the tropic
countries.
DRAWS SMALL FINE
From Tuesday's Daity
Last evening in the police court
William Newman entered a plea of
gailty to the charge of being intox
icated, the alleged offense having oc
curred on Sunday. After hearing the
plea and statements of the police of
ficers. Judge C. L. Graves assessed a
fine of $10 and costs and which was
settled by the defendant.
Death of Mrs.
L. R Sprecher
Early Today
Taken Suddenly 111 Tuesday After
noon and Taken to Hospital
Where Death Conies.
From Wednesday's Dally
The community was profoundly
shocked this morning by the message
from Omaha that Mrs. L. R. Sprecher,
popular young woman of this com
munity, had passed away at a hos
pital in that city at an early hour
today.
Mrs. Sprecher was taken ill very
suddenly yesterday afternoon and the
seriousness of her condition was ap
parent at that time and she was nur
ried to the hospital at Omaha in
hopes that her life might be spared
but without avail, through the after
noon and night specialists laboring
on the case to save it possbile the
life of Mrs. Sprecher and the little
one but the patient failed to rally
and blood transfusions failed to re
vive tne sinking condition of the
patient.
The child following the operation
seemed to be doing very nicely and
was expected to live.
The deceased was formerly Miss
Freda Sattler. daughter pf Mayor
and Mrs. John P. Sattler. her pass
ing being the first in the large fam
ily circle, bringing to the bereaved
family the deepest sorrow. Born
August 15. 1S98 she was reared
in this city she had made a
host of friends, her unfailing pleas
antness and charm of personality
drawing to her a wide circle of warm
friends who had known and loved
her for the years of her lifetime. She
was married in this city nine years
ago to Lawrence R. Sprecher, they
making this city their home since
that time. In her life Mrs. Sprecher
was active In the social life of the
community and a very efficient work
er in the Methodist church of this
city, serving as a worker in the Sun
day school and church. She was also
for a number of years engaged as
clerk in the offices of the Burling
ton store department here and at
Lincoln and where she was numbered
as one of the most efficient and faith
ful workers.
Mrs. Sprecher is survived by the
husband, the parents. Mayor ariTJ Mrs.
John P. Sattler. six sisters and three
brothers. Mrs. W. H. Mason and Mrs.
Jess F. Warga of this city, Mrs.
Charles Lohmann. of Omaha. Mrs.
Roy Burdick and Mrs. Fred Herb
ster of Tuscon, Arizona, Mrs. Ber
nard Meisinger of Mynard. Albert
Sattler of Omaha. Carl Sattler of
Los Angeles. California, and John
Siit t lei. Jr.. of this city.
HEAR OF 4-H WORK
From Tuesday's Oaliy
The members of the local Rotary
club had the privilege this noon at
their luncheon of hearing the 4-H
club work taken up in detail by
County Agent D. D. Wainscott of
Weeping Water, explaining the sev
eral clubs and their methods, the
hoys and girls lines of activities in
actual demonstration of farm and
domestic lines of work. The clubs
oi Lass county nave ranked nign in
the state and the talk of Mr. Wain
scott was very inspirational and led
the members to feel that this line
of work should be encouraged and
supported in every way.
T. H. Pollock, chairman of the
agricultural committee of the Cl am
ber of Commerce- was a guest of the
luncheon, being one of the leaders in
the development of the 4-H work.
Miss Helen Perry, one of the tal
ented ladies of the community, was
presented in two very delightful dra
matic readings and which reflected
the artistic touch that Miss Perry
gives to her work in this line.
The meeting was in charge of E.
H. Spangler, master farmer of My
nard. and deserved much credit for
the fine program that he had pre
pared. Among the guests present at the
luncheon was an old familiar figure
here in the old shop days. Dr. A. L.
Parks of Omaha and Mr. Redfern of
the Relief Pension department of the
Burlington. Mr. Redfern made a
short talk on the work of the pension
department of the railroad that was
followed with a great deal of inter
est. ARRANGING NEW STORE
The interior of the store room
in the Golding building which is to
he occupied by the new variety store,
is being decorated this week and the
fixtures and the shelving will be
arranged preparatory to the open
ing of the store in the near fuutre.
The interior is being painted a light
buff and with the new fixtures and
decorations will make a very neat
and attractive store. The stock for
the new store is being purchased now
and will be arranged as soon as the
store can be completed. The new
establishment will be operated by
Byron Golding and Dr. Joe Stlbal,
Mrs. Stibal being engaged in assist
ing in looking after the aciive work
of the store. The store will handle
all articles from one cent up to $1.
The decorating is being done by
Earl Brittain.
THE BRUSH AT CONVENTION
From Tuesday's Dn:y
This morning at an early hour M.
D. Brown, local world war veteran
departed for the America ri Legion
state convention at Fremont, takine
with him his DOW famous Brush cat
Of the vintage ol" 1)06.
The car was take" on a trailer '
by Carl Ofe and It is expcd?d to
have te car la the Legion parade
'his Rfternoon ai'd where it w:ll at- j
true? '.he usual amoun of attention J
hat U leceivts when shown in pub-!
lie. he c?r will be used as a rep- i
resent.it jon of the local post in the
parade
There are a Iage number of the
local service men at Fremont today
to enjoy what is expected to be the
high spot of the convention program.
Investigate
Death of Aged
Man at Omaha
Stacey C.
Man
Niday of Union. Discovered
Lying in the Street in
Front of His Car
The thirtieth death in auto acci
dents at Omaha occurred Sunday
when John Desanti, 63, who made
his home at the Douglas county hos
pital, was fatally injured at Twenty
fourth and Pierce streets and died a.
short time afterwards at the Lord
Lister hospital.
The unfortunate man was lying
in the roadway, states Stacey C. Ni
dayl of Union, when he came along
in his car and he was not able tb
see the man until too late to pre
vent running over the aged man as
he lay in the street. While Niday
was held technically on a charge of
reckless driving, he was released on
a bond of $2,500.
Vic Johnson, investigator for the
Douglas county coroner, is working
on a theory Desanti may have been
struck by another car before being
run over by Niaay, because of iJes
anti's many injuries. His skull, left
arm and two ribs were fractured.
He also was internally injured.
Desanti is survived by seven chil
dren. Mrs. Bruno, Mike Frank, Joe, j
Tony. Paul and Angelina.
Paul Steinwender said an
would probably be held.
Coroner
inquest
INJURED IN ACCIDENT
Mrs. George Conis of this city was
injured very painfully on Sunday at
Omaha when the car in which she'on Ju
was riding in company with Harry i lowed
Mears and others. was almost
demolished in a collision with an
other car as they were passing an
intersection and the car turned over
several times. Mrs. Conis suffered a
had cut on the right elbow and also
had one of her lower limbs cut and
bruised to a greater or less extent,
while Mr. Meats had his back cut
and injured. They were both severely
bruised up and shocked by the exper
ience. Mrs. Conis was given medical
aid at Omaha and the injuries dress
ed and she was able to come on
home to this city, but will feel the
effects of the injuries for several
tor in the struggle.
Mrs. Theodore, who with her chil
dren were in the auto party met Mrs.
Conis and her children at a church
at Sixteenth and Castellar
and was taking them to visit
near Twentieth and 'a.stellai
streets
friends
.-t rcets
when the accident occurred.
Mrs. Theodore and htr two chil
dren were going with Mears to his
home.
Harry Lund, driver of the other
car was not seriously injured. He was
held charged with reckless driving.
F00TRALL GRILL ON
That there will be seme real foot
ball spirit shown at the Plattsmouth
high school this year, is indicated
by the enthusiasm with which the
members of the school are turning
out for the daily gatherings at the
Athletic park where Captain Donat
and the veteran members rT the team
are instilling the football spirit
prior to the opening of the season.
The active practice will not be taken
up until the arrival of Coach Fred
A. Rothert and the opening of school
on September Sth. The newer mem
bers of the football squad who are
turning out are showing real spirit
and should help in giving this city
a high school football team that will
be equal to that of last year.
ARRIVAL OF UTILE SON
From Tuesday's ta!ly
This morning a fine seven and i
half pound son and heir arrived at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Fulton in the west part of the city
and brought wiih it a erreat deal of
rejoicing among the members of the
family circle. The mother and little
one are doing nicely and it is need
less to say that Charles is painting
with renewed enthusias na. Mrs. Ful
ton was formerly Miss Mary Sedlak,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Sed
lak. The many friends of Mr. and Mrs.
Fulton join in their congratulations
to the happy parents and trust that
the young son may have many years
of success.
History of
Plattsmouth
from Early Day
R. Foster Patterson. Principal of the
High School Gives Thorough
Review of History
As was promised several days aco
the Journal is commencing the pub
lication of the history of Plat:--mouth,
taken from the thesis of
Robert Foster Patterson, prepun d
for h!s work in a master's degree at
the University of Nebraska in the de
partment of history.
This history is very carefully pre
pared by Mr. Patterson from the state
and city records, references from the
archives of the state historical so
ciety and in the sulmissi ;i :.f the
history each fact given is verified by
the references to the authority on
which it is based.
This very complete and reliable
history is one that should be pre
served by the residents of the city
as it appears from day to day in the
Journal. The third chapter of the
history is now being prepared by
Mr. Patterson and will be ready in
a short time, covering the period
down to 1895.
The opening chapters which ap-
i pears tociay. aeais wnn tne very
; earliest settlements of the commun
! ity.
CHAPTER L
Early Exploration. Settle
ment and Problems.
There is a romance about the
early history of the old river towns
of Nebraska that challenges inves
tigation. Some of these towns like
Kanosha and Rock Bluffs flourished
for a brief period and then vanished
from the map. Others like Nebraska
City, Bellevue and Plattsmouth had
great aspirations to be larpe cities
but failing to realize that ambition.
have survived to the present time.
' leaving an interesting Ftory of their
efforts to become the "metropolis of
the west." The wheels of fortune
decreed that Omaha, alone of the
ri'fer towns, should become a city of
.any great size and activity.
l ne earnest auinenucaieu expior-
J atlon by white men on Nebraska
jsoil. was that of two brothers. Pierre
and Paul Mallet, who in command of
a small company of explorers, made
a trip up the Missouri River in June.
1739. Their report to the French
authoriiies at New Orleans bhows
that they reached the mouth of a
river which they called the "Plate"
'.e 2. 1739. and that they fol
it up stream for a distance of
seventy miles.
The region where Plattsmouth is
located is also mentioned in the
Journals of Lewis and Clarke when
they made their expedition up the
Missouri River in 1804. Their party
consisted of t went y-eight men. mak
ing the trip in three open boats.
On July 21, 1S04. they reached the
mouth of the "Great River Piatt"
and commented in their records upon
the hilly, rolling land which is char
acteristic of the territory adjacent to
the river and in particular, the west
hank. Like the Mallrt expedition,
the Lewis-Clarke company made an
effort to navipate the Pla'te but
found it too difficult to do so cm ac
count of its shallowness. The fact
that this expedition found the re
mains of :m old trading post n little
above the present site of Council
Bluffs, but on he Nebraska side of
the river, suggets the possibility
that white men had been in the
region of the mouth of the Platte
River prior to 1804. Manuel Lisa
made an exploration trip to the
Platte River country as early as 1807
in the interests of the American Fur
Company. In 1819. Long's Expedition
on the "Western Engineer." the first
'steamboat to navipate the upper
Missouri, reached tht mouth of the
Platte September 17. Fremont's Ex
pedition in 1S42 camped for one
I night on the bluffs immediately be
low Plattsmouth which is still known
as Fremont's Point.
While these explorations aid in
identifying the repion around the
'present site of Plattsmouth. four
miles below the mouh of the Platte
River, 'he investipa'or must cross
, the Missouri River Into Mills Coun
ty, Iowa, to race the actual be
ginnings of settlement at Platts
mouth. The Mormons, who were mov
ing westward toward Utah in the
late forties, founded the town of
Coonville in 1848. The name was
subsequently changed to Glenwood
when the latter became the county
seat in 1853. Samuel Martin, the
j first setf!er rrd founder of Platts
mouth. was a resident of Glenwood
as were many others who came to
Plattsmouth In the later fifties The
event which foreshadowed the found
ing of Plattsmouth occurred in Jan
uary. 1852, when Samuel Martin
filed application with the county
court at Coonville for a license to
operate a ferry on the Missouri River
from the Iowa side across to the town
of "Plattsville" for a period of ten
years. The petition was granted.
Prior to this ime. the Mormon's
crossed the river at this same place
on a flatboat ferry operated by
Libeas T. Coon but there was no
settlement made at the present site
(Continued on Page 3)
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