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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1895)
THE COURIER. ! - Z i ' '- .T r Pip "'- HISTORICAL Tlio following is tho first of n series of sketches or articles concerning tho early days in Lincoln and Nebraska, which will appear weekly. While theso articles will bo prepared specially for Tub Cockier it is thought proper to introduce tho series with n paper on tho organization of tho stato and location of tho capital, written by Mr. C II. Gere, editor of the Journal, in 1Km5. We will umlertako to answer all queries in this connection, and will bo pleased to receive any information. Tho first governor of tho territory of Nebraska was clothed with imperial powers by tho organic act and tho ap pointment of tho president in the matter of setting up his official residence. Em powered to select tho spot for tho poli tical center of his virgin domain, ho wielded for a time, in tho minds of his fellow citizens, tho thunderbolt of Jove, and guided the coursers of Apollo. But hardly had ho arrived in October, 1851, at the old mission houso at Bellevue, tho site of tho first white occupation of tho territory, before he sickened, and in less than a week ho was dead. His last hours were troubled by tho delegations on hand and forcing their way to his bedside, who camo to urge tho respec tive claims of Omaha, or Florence, or Plattsmouth, or Nebraska City for tho seat of government. Bellevue consider ed herself safe, and tho words of tho dying Burt are ofton quoted by old citi zens to this day as indicating that she would have won tho crown, had the governor lived long enough to issue tho proclamation. His secretary of state, now his acting successor, Gov. Cuming, unembarrassed by the past, pledged to no one, because no one had dreamed of bis approaching greatness, had an embarrassment of riches in the shape of eligible sites otter ed him at once. Bellevue had perhaps the first claim, because sho had tho largest settlement and tho greatest pres tige. But all along tho muddy banks of the Missouri, above and below her, were other cities, mostly on paper, though some had arrived at the dignity of a few scattering log cabins and dug-outs, that wrestled for tho supremacy. Most of their inhabitants lived over in Iowa, but the fact that they intended to elect a goodly portion of the coming" territorial legislature, was sutlicient excuse for their pleading, and they made the execu tive ears warm with their arguments. By what pathway the acting governor was led to pitch the imperial tent upon the plateaux of Omaha it is not our province to inquire. If tho statesmen of Kanesville, later Council Bluffs, had a hand in tho matter, that city soon had reason to mourn that the nest of tho new commonwealth was lined with plumago from her own breast. From its very cradle, her infant despoiled her of her commercial prestige, and now scoffs at her maternal ancestor every time sho glances across the four miles of dreary bottom that separates tho waxing from the waning metropolis. For the time being Omaha was tho capital, and the first legislature, with ample power to endorse or cancel the governor's location, was the next object of tho executive attention, and it was his chiefest care to fortify and defend Omaha. A bill was passed early in tho third annual session by both houses locating the 6eat of government "in the town of Douglas, in tho county of Lancaster." It was a curious prophecy of tho event ten years later. Governor Izard, who had in the mean time relieved acting Governor Cuming of tho burden of executive honors, promptly vetoed tho bill. Ho explainel in his message that it was a sudden movement of the enemies of Omaha, that the question had not been agitated by tho people, that the alleged town of Douglas, in tho county of Lancaster, was a mere figment of tho legislative imagination, invented for tho occasion and that its actual location in tho coun ty named was problematical, being as yet tho football of factions within tho faction that had passed tho removal bill. A year later, at a meeting of tho fourth legislative assembly, the quarrel broke out afresh. Governor Izard had resign ed, and Richardson, his successor, had not arrived, and Secretary Cuming was again in the chair. Aino days prior to tho expiration of tho session, on the 7th of January, a bill was introduced for tho removal of tho capital to Florence Tho various tactical obstructions in tho minority, engineered by such rising young statesmen as Dr. Geo. L. Miller, president of tho council, and A. J. Poppleton and J. Sterling Morton in the house, mado it impossible to accom plish til's object without strategy. Tho strategy resorted to was simple, but startling. On tho morning of tho 8th Mr. Donelan af Cass placidly roso in his place and moved "that we do now ad journ to meet at Florenco to-morrow morning at the usual hour." Speaker Decker, who was ono of tho removers, put tho question from tho chair, as though it was tho most natural thing in the world to meet at Florenco to morrow morning; and tho motion prevailed, and the speaker and all but thirteen mem bets of the houso picked up their hats and left tho chamber. Tho thirteen held the fort, elected Morton speaker pro tcm., and gallantly affected an ad journment to meet again on tho morrow at tho old stand. A similar sceno was transpiring in the council. Dr. Miller, in tho chair, re fused to put tho motion to adjourn to Florence, and it was put by Reeves of Otoe, declared carried, and eight coun cilmen stalked out into tho cold world and prepared themselves for an eternal exodus to the villago up the river. As to this emigration Douglas county was again divided against herself. Bowen and Allen, tho ono representing Flor ence, and tho other standing for that cruel Juno, Bellevue, whose lofty mind still resolved vengeaDco for the judgment of Paris and her injured beauty, were tho leaders in the race, and behind tho twain marched Bradford and Reeves of Otoe, Kirkpatrick of Cass, Stafford of Dodge, and Furnas of Nemaha. Governor Richardson arrived about this time, to find two capitals and two legislatures in full blast, and himself tho unwilling arbitrator of tho war. Ho promptly refused to recognizo the Flor ence legislature, though it had the maj ority in both houses. The forty days limit of the session broke up both bod. ies, and they each adjourned, leaving the business of tho session undone, and tho territory without a code of criminal law, and thus ended the first and last attempt recorded in history to attach the removal of a seat of" government to a motion to adjourn until to morrow morning. The consequence was an extra session not long after, in 1S59, at which much business was done, and in which Mr Daily of Nemaha introduced a bill to abolish slavery in the territory, but dur ing which the capital aeitation slumber ed and slept. The legislature met on the 18th of May, and the lines were quickly drawn for the emergency. Re-apportionment was a fixed fact, and after a few days spent in reconnoitering, a solid majority in both houses seemed likely to agree upon a scheme for capital location. Mr. Harvey, who had led the assault upon re-apportionment at the late session of the territorial legislature, was an active leader of his late antagonists for reloca tion. Party cffiliations were ruptured all along tho line and the new lines were formed on a sectional basis. The bill was prepared with deliberation, much caucusing being required beforo it would satisfy tho various elements in tho movement, and it was introduced In both houses on tho 4th of June. It was entitled "An act to provide for tho loca tion of tho seat cf government of tha stato of Nebraska, and for tho erection of public buildings thereat." It named tho governor, David Butler, tho secre tary of state, Thomas P. Kennard, and tho auditor, John Gillespie, commission ers, who should select, on or beforo July 15, a date changed by a suppli montaty bill to September 1, 1SG7, from landa be longing to tho stato lying within tho county of Seward, the south half of tho counties of Saunders and Butler, and that portion of Lancaster ceunty lying north of tho south lino of township nine, a suitablo sito of not less than G10 acres laying in ono body, for a town, to have tho 6amosurveycd,and named "Lincoln," and declare tho same the permanent 6eat of government of the state. The bill directed tho commissioners, after tho site had been surveyed, to offer the lots in each alternate block for salo to the highest bidder after thirty dajs advertisement, having appraised tho same, but that no lots should bo sold for les than tho appraised value. Tho first sale should bo held for tivo succeseive days at Lincoln on tho site, after which sale should be opened for the same dura tion, first at Nebraska City and Dext at Omaha. If a sutlicient number of lots should not by this time lie disposed of $5 TO CALIFORNIA Is our Sleeping Car Kate on thel'hilllps-Rock Island Tourist Excursions from Council Bluffs Omaha or Lincoln to Los Angeles or ."an Fran ci'co Tia tho Scenic Itoutn and Ogden. Car leaves Dei Moines every Friday, and sleeping car rato from thero is S3 50. Youhavo through sleeper, and tho Phillip' mangement has a special agent accompany the excursion each week, and you will save money and have excellent accomodation, as the car have upholstered spring seats, are Pullman build, and appointments perfect. Address for full particulars, JNO. SEBASTIAN. G. P. A. Chicago. CHAS. KENNEDY, Gen. W. Pass. A. O. A. RUTHERFORD. C. P. A T. A. 1045 O St. Cor. 11th, Lincoln, Neb A GUIDE TO HEALTH with every purchase of IVI.X-.-t"l.J-i rexociij! at RIGGS' pharmacy. BLUE B1VEB ICE can only be had from tho wagons of P. H. Cooper. Telephones .'553 and 153 BICVCLE RIDERS SHOUD USE BIGG'S CALENDULA for sprains, bruises, sore muscles after RIDES, etc. In 25 and 50 cent sizes, Instantaneous in its results. Under new management MERCHANTS' HOTEL OMAHA, NEBR. PAXTON, HUI.ETT DAVENPORT, Proprietors. Special attention to state trade, guest u4 iommercial travelers. Farnam street elaetris Mrs pasa the door to and from all parti of tfca it. SHERIFF SALE. First publication Aug.'l Notico is hereby given, that by virtue of an execution issued by tho clerk of tho district court of the third judicial district of Nebraska, within and for Lancaster county, in an action wherein Albert W. Janseu is plaintiff, and Herman Goldsmith defendant. I will, at two o'clock p. m. on tho .'IrddayofSeptemberA.D.at thoeastdoor of the court house, in the city of Lincoln Lancaster county, Nebraska, offer for salo at public auction tho following described real estate to-wit: Lot A of Spencer's subdivision of lot soven 7 of block three ,'IjuihI seven (7) of block four I in Spencer's addition to Lincoln, Lancaster county, Nebraska. Given under my hand this 27th day of July A. D. 1S95. Freu A. Miller Aug. :il Sheriff. NOTICE OF PETITION. First publication August ."1st. In the County Court within and for Lancaster county, Nebraska. August '27th, 1S05, in the matter of tho estate of James Edwin Jonis, deceased, to Oscar A. Million, Jacob Bigler executor and to any other parties interested in said estate. You are hereby notified that Oscar A. Million has filed a petition in this court praying for an order authorizing and allowing the executor to retrace a cer tain promissory note, accepting in lieu thereof all rights, title, interest, and claim that Oscar A. Million may have in said estate as legatee. It is hereby ordered that tho same bo set for hearing on the "Oth day of Sept ember, 1895 and notico of hearing shall be published three weeks consecutively in The Coukiek, a weekly newspaper, published in this state. Witness my hand and the seal ot said County Court this 27th day of August, 1S95. , ' -- j J. W. L.osino, seal County Judge. ' Sopt. 1 1. First publication Aug. 21. NOflCH TO NON-RESIDENT DE FEND A NTS. In tho district court of Lancaster county. Nebraska. Harrison National Bank, of Cadiz, Ohio, a corpor ation organized and exist ing under and by virtue of the laws of the United States, Plaintiff, vs. Buckley D. Catlin, et. .il.. Defendants. Buckley D. Catlin, Rachael A. Catlin, Merrit M. Catlin. Mary A. Catlin, Hardigit Spiler, Pomeroy Coal Com pany, William B. Thompson, C. C White, real name unknown. Peter Fickcn, G. M. Robbins, real name unknown, Bnxter Stove Co, Eugeno Tavre, Elizabeth Hal, Sligo Iron and stone Co. aud and Western Iron A Supply Company, defendants, will take notice that on tho 27th day of July, 1S05, the Harrison National Bank of Cadiz, Ohio, plaintiff herein, filed its petition in the district court ot Lan caster county, Nebraska, against said defendants, the object and prayer of which are to foreclose a certain mort gage executed by the defendants. Buckley D. Catlin, Merrit M. Catlin and Mary A Catlin, to Mary C. Kitchen, and afterwards and for a valuable con sideiation endorsed and delivered by said Mary C. Kitchen to the Clark ifc Leonard Investment Company, and by said Clark ifc Leonard Investment Com pany endorsed and delivered to tho Harrison National Bank of Cadiz, Ohio, plaintiff herein, upon the following des cribed premises, to-wit; Lot number thirty-nine (.'59) block one (1), Houtz Place, according to tho recorded plat thereof, to secure tho payment of a certain promissory note dated January 25, 1S90 for the sum of 8100X0 and due and payable Januaiy 25. 1S92, with interest from date until paid at the rate of 8 percent perannum. That there is now duo upon said noto and mortgage the sum of S40O.0O, with interest at 8 per cent per annum from tho 25th day of January, 1890, for which sum, with interest, plaintiff prays for decree that defendants. Buckley D. Catlin, Merrit M. Catlin and Mary A. Catlin be required to pay the same or that said premises may be sold to satisfy the amount found due. You are required to answer said petition on or before the 30th day of September, 1S95. John B. Cunningham, Sept 14 Atty. for Plaintiff.