E. of Waltham, Massachusetts, and Henry O. at the home of the latter in
Meriden, Connecticut. They were intensely interested in the incident of
their father's death and in the protection of his grave. It was planned
that they should obtain a granite boulder from near their father's home
in which the old red sandstone set up by his companions in 1849 might be
preserved, and a bronze tablet fashioned by Henry O. Winslow's hands
placed upon its face. This has been done, and the monument was unveiled
on October 29, 1912, with appropriate ceremonies.
I learned from them that Charles Gould, then in the eighty-ninth year,
the last survivor of the party, lived at Lake City, Minnesota. Mr. Gould
kept a record of each day's events from the time the Boston and Newton
Joint Stock Association left Boston until it arrived at Sutter's Fort,
California. A copy of this interesting diary and a copy of a
daguerreotype of Mr. Gould taken in 1849 are now in the possession of
the Nebraska State Historical Society. The original letter written by
George Winslow to his wife Eliza from Independence, Missouri, May 12,
1849, and the letter of Brackett Lord written at Fort Kearny June 17,
1849, describing Winslow's sickness, death, and burial, and a copy of a
daguerreotype of George Winslow taken in 1849, were given me by Mr.
Henry O. Winslow to present to the Nebraska State Historical Society.
From the Winslow memorial published in 1877, we learn that George
Winslow was descended from Kenelm Winslow of Dortwitch, England, whose
two sons Edward and Kenelm emigrated to Leyden, Holland, and joined the
Pilgrim church there in 1617. Edward came to America with the first
company of emigrants in the Mayflower, December, 1620, and was one of
the committee of four who wrote the immortal compact or Magna Charta. He
became governor of Plymouth colony in 1633. His brother Kenelm came to
America in the Mayflower with the long hindered remainder of the Pilgrim
church on a later voyage.
His son Kenelm Winslow was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1635. His
son, Josiah Winslow, born 1669, established the business of cloth
dressing at Freetown, Massachusetts. His son James Winslow, born 1712,
continued his father's business, and was a colonel in the second
regiment Massachusetts militia. His son Shadrach Winslow, born 1750,
graduated at Yale in 1771 and became an eminent physician. At the
outbreak of the Revolutionary war, being a gentleman of independent
fortune, he fitted out a warship or a privateer, and was commissioned to
attack the enemy on the high seas. He was captured off the coast of
Spain, and confined in a dismal prison ship where he suffered much. His
son Eleazer Winslow, born 1786, took up his abode in the Catskill
mountains with a view to his health and while there at Ramapo, New York,
on August 11, 1823, his son George Winslow was born.
The family moved to Newton, Mass., now a suburb of Boston, where George
learned his father's trade, that of machinist and molder. In the same
shop and at the same time, David Staples and Brackett Lord, who
afterwards became brothers-in-law, and Charles Gould were learning this
trade.
George Winslow was married in 1845. His first son, George Edward, was
born May 15, 1846. His second son Henry O., was born May 16, 1849, the
day the father left the frontier town of Independence, Missouri, for
California.
The Boston and Newton Joint Stock Association consisted of twenty-five
picked young men from Newton and the vicinity of Boston, each member
paying $300 into the treasury. The incidents along the journey we obtain
from Mr. Gould's excellent journal. They left Boston, April 16, 1849,
traveling by rail to Buffalo, taking the steamer Baltic for Sandusky,
Ohio, and then by rail to Cincinnati, where they arrived April 20, at
9:00 o'clock p. m.
They left Cincinnati April 23rd, on the steamer Griffin Yeatman for St.
Louis, and arrived there April 27th, then by steamer Bay State, to
Independence, Missouri. The boat was crowded principally with passengers
bound for California. A set of gamblers seated around a table well
supplied with liquor kept up their game all night. Religious services
were held on board on the Sabbath, Rev. Mr. Haines preaching the sermon.
The usual exciting steamboat race was had, their boat leaving the
steamer Alton in the rear, where, Mr. Gould remarks "we think she will
be obliged to stay."
On May 3rd, they landed at Independence, Missouri, and began
preparations for the overland journey. In the letter written by George
Winslow to his wife, he says:
"We have no further anxiety about forage; millions of buffalo have
feasted for ages on these vast prairies, and as their number have been
diminished by reason of hunters, it is absurd to think we will not have
sufficient grass for our animals....
"We have bought forty mules which cost us $50 apiece. I have been
appointed teamster, and had the good luck to draw the best wagon. I
never slept better in my life. I always find myself in the morning--or
my bed, rather--flat as a pan cake. As the darn thing leaks just enough
to land me on terra firma by morning, it saves me the trouble of
pressing out the wind; so who cares....
"Sunday morning, May 13, 1849. This is a glorious morning and having
curried my mules and washed my clothes and bathed myself, I can
recommence writing to you Eliza....
"We engaged some Mexicans to break the mules. To harness them they tied
their fore legs together and threw them down. The fellows then got on
them and wrung their ears, which like a nigger's shin, is the tenderest
part. By that time they were docile enough to take the harness. The
animals in many respects resemble sheep, they are very timid and when
frightened will kick like thunder. They got six harnessed into a team,
when one of the leaders, feeling a little mulish, jumped right straight
over the other one's back. One fellow offered to bet the liquor that he
could ride an unbroken one he had bought; the bet was taken--but he had
no sooner mounted the fool mule than he landed on his hands and feet in
a very undignified manner; a roar of laughter from the spectators was
his reward. I suppose by this time you have some idea of a mule....
"I see by your letter that you have the blues a little in your anxiety
for my welfare. I do not worry about myself, then why do you for me? I
do not discover in your letter any anxiety on your own account; then let
us for the future look on the bright side and indulge in no more useless
anxiety. It effects nothing, and is almost universally the bugbear of
the imagination.... The reports of the gold region here are as
encouraging as they were in Massachusetts. Just imagine to yourself
seeing me return with from $10,000 to $100,000...."
On May 16th this company of intrepid men started out upon the long
overland trail to California. They traveled up the Kansas river, delayed
by frequent rains and mud hub deep, reaching the lower ford of the
Kansas on the 26th, having accomplished about fifty miles in ten days.
The wagons were driven on flatboats and poled across by five Indians.
The road now becoming dry, they made rapid progress until the 29th, when
George Winslow was suddenly taken violently sick with the cholera. Two
others in the party were suffering with symptoms of the disease. The
company remained in camp three days and the patients having so far
recovered, it was decided to proceed. Winslow's brothers-in-law, David
Staples and Brackett Lord, or his uncle, Jesse Winslow, were with him
every moment, giving him every care. As they journeyed on he continued
to improve. On June 5th they camped on the Big Blue, and on the 6th,
late in the afternoon, they reached the place where the trail crosses
the present Nebraska-Kansas state line into Jefferson county, Nebraska.
Mr. Gould writes: "About a half hour before sunset a terrific thunder
shower arose, which baffles description, the lightning flashes dazzling
the eyes, and the thunder deafening the ears, and the rain falling in
torrents. It was altogether the grandest scene I have ever witnessed.
When the rain ceased to fall the sun had set and darkness closed in."
To this storm is attributed George Winslow's death. The next morning he
appeared as well as usual, but at 3 o'clock became worse, and the
company encamped. He failed rapidly, and at 9 o'clock a. m., the next
day, the 8th of June, 1849, painlessly and without a struggle, he sank
away as though going to sleep. He was taken to the center of the corral,
where funeral services were performed, by reading from the scriptures
by Mr. Burt, and prayer by Mr. Sweetser. He was then borne to the grave
by eight bearers, and followed by the rest of the company. Tears rolled
down the cheeks of those strong men as each deposited a green sprig in
the open grave.
For him the trail ended here--in these green pastures. All the rest of
his company traveled the long old trail across plains, mountains, and
deserts, and reached the fabled gardens and glittering sands of El
Dorado, only to find them the ashes of their hopes. He alone of all that
company was never disillusioned.
EARLY DAYS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
BY MRS. M. H. WEEKS
When I look upon the little city of Fairbury and see the beautiful
trees, fine lawns, and comfortable homes, it is hard to realize the
feelings I had in July, 1873, when as a bride, coming from the dear old
Granite state, we came to our future home. I wanted to "go on" somewhere
else, for everything that is usually green was so parched and dreary
looking and desolate. The only trees were at the homes of L. C. Champlin
and S. G. Thomas.
We spent the night at the Purdy house, and the following day drove to
our homestead; and in fording the river where the Weeks bridge is now,
the water poured into the express wagon (finest conveyance in town)
driven by Will Hubbell. At least two of the party were much alarmed--our
sister Mary Weeks and the writer.
It was the first of many peculiar experiences, such as taking my sewing
and a rocking chair, on a hayrack, to the hay field, rather than stay
home alone for fear of the Otoe Indians. The first intimation of their
presence would be their faces pressed against the window glass, and that
would give one a creepy feeling.
I have ridden to town many times on loads of sand, rock, and hay; and
when the ford was impassable with wagons, I would go on horseback, with
arms around the neck of faithful Billy, and eyes closed for fear of
tumbling off into the water. On the return trip both of our horses would
be laden with bags of provisions.
In 1867 my husband went with a party of twenty-five on a buffalo hunt
with a man by the name of Soules as guide. They secured plenty of elk,
deer, and buffalo. The wagons were formed in a circle, to corral the
horses and mules nights for fear of an attack by the Indians; each one
taking turns as sentinel. The mules would always whistle if an Indian
was anywhere near, so he felt secure even if he did sleep a little. They
only saw the Indians at a distance as they were spearing the buffalo.
All things have surely changed, and now we ride in autos instead of
covered wagons. What will the next fifty years bring?
LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL AT LINCOLN
BY JOHN H. AMES
By an act of the legislature, approved June 14, 1867, it was provided
that the governor, secretary, and auditor of state, should be
commissioners for the purpose of locating the seat of government and
public buildings of the state of Nebraska, and they were vested with the
necessary powers and authority for proceeding, as soon as practicable,
to effect that purpose, and required on or before the fifteenth day of
July in the same year, to select from among certain lands belonging to
the state, and lying within the counties of Seward, Saunders, Butler,
and Lancaster, "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 portions of the state and its general fitness for
a capital."
The commissioners were also required, immediately upon such selections
being made, to appoint a competent surveyor and proceed to "survey, lay
off and stake out the said tract of land into lots, blocks, streets,
alleys, and public squares or reservations for public buildings"; and
the act declared that such town when so laid out and surveyed, should
"be named and known as Lincoln," and the same was thereby declared to be
"the permanent seat of government of the state of Nebraska, at which all
the public offices of the state should be kept, and at which all the
sessions of the legislature thereof should be held."
The act further provided that the lots in the alternate blocks, not
reserved as aforesaid, in said town, should, after notice thereof had
been given by advertisement for the time and in the manner therein
prescribed, be offered for sale to the highest and best bidder; and the
commissioners were authorized, after having held the sale for five
successive days, as therein provided, at Lincoln, Nebraska City, and
Omaha, to adjourn the same to be held at such other place or places
within or without the state, as they might see proper, provided that at
such sales no lots should be sold for a less price than a minimum to be
fixed on each lot by the commissioners, previous to the opening of the
sales. All moneys received for the sale of said lots were declared to be
a state building fund, and were directed to be deposited in the state
treasury and kept separate from all other funds for that purpose. Notice
was directed to be issued immediately after the sale of lots, asking
from architects plans and specifications for a building, the foundation
of which should be of stone, and the superstructure of stone or brick,
which should be suitable for the two houses of the legislature and the
executive offices of the state, and which might be designed as a portion
of a larger edifice, but the cost of which should not exceed fifty
thousand dollars. Provision was also made for the letting of the
contract for its construction, and appointing a superintendent thereof,
and also for the erection at Lincoln, as soon as sufficient funds
therefor could be secured by the sale of public lands or otherwise, of a
state university, agricultural college, and penitentiary; but no
appropriation, other than of the state lands and lots as above
described, was made for the aid of any of the enterprises herein
mentioned.
What was the result of sending three men fifty miles out into an
unbroken, and at that time, almost unknown prairie, to _speak_ into
existence simply by the magic of their own unconquerable, though
unaided, enterprise and perseverance, a city that should not only be
suitable for the seat of government of the state, but should be able,
almost as soon as its name was pronounced, to contribute from its own
resources sufficient funds for the erection of a state house and other
necessary public state buildings, remains to be seen.
It appears from the report of the commissioners, made to the senate and
house of representatives at its first regular session, held in January,
1869, that, having provided themselves with an outfit, and employed Mr.
Augustus F. Harvey, as surveyor, to ascertain the location of the lines
of the proposed sites, they left Nebraska City on the afternoon of the
18th of July, 1867, for the purpose of making the selection required in
the act.
After having visited and examined the town sites of Saline City, or
"Yankee Hill," and Lancaster, in Lancaster county, they proceeded to
visit and examine the several proposed sites in each of the counties
named in the act, in which occupations they were engaged until the
twenty-ninth of the same month, when they returned, and made a more
thorough examination of the two sites above referred to, at which time
the favorable impressions received of Lancaster on their first visit
were confirmed. Says the report:
"We found a gently undulating surface, its principal elevation being
near the centre of the proposed new site. The village already
established being in the midst of a thrifty and considerable
agricultural population; rock, timber, and water power available within
short distances; the centre of the great saline region within two miles;
and in addition to all other claims, the special advantage was that the
location was at the centre of a circle, of about 110 miles in diameter,
along or near the circumference of which are the Kansas state line
directly south, the important towns of Pawnee City, Nebraska City,
Plattsmouth, Omaha, Fremont, and Columbus.... Under these circumstances
we entertained the proposition of the people residing in the vicinity of
Lancaster, offering to convey to the state in _fee simple_ the west half
of the west half of section 25, the east half and the southwest quarter
of section 26, which, with the northwest quarter of section 26 (the last
named quarter being saline land), all in town 10, range 6 east; the
whole embracing 800 acres, and upon which it was proposed to erect the
new town. In addition, the trustees of the Lancaster Seminary
Association proposed to convey to the state, for an addition to the site
named in the foregoing proposition, the town site of Lancaster,
reserving, however, certain lots therein which had been disposed of in
whole or in part to the purchasers thereof."
After being satisfied of the sufficiency of the titles proposed to be
conveyed to the state, and having carefully "considered all the
circumstances of the condition of the saline lands, the advantage of the
situation, its central position, and the value of its surroundings over
a district of over _twelve thousand square miles_ of rich agricultural
country, it was determined to accept the proposition made by the owners
of the land." Accordingly on the afternoon of the 29th of July the
commissioners assembled at the house of W. T. Donavan, in Lancaster, and
by a unanimous vote formally declared the present site of the capital
city of Lincoln, which action was first made public by a proclamation
issued on the 14th day of August next following.
On the 15th of August, Messrs. Harvey and Smith, engineers, with a corps
of assistants, commenced the survey of the town, the design being
calculated for the making of a beautiful city. The streets are one
hundred and twenty feet wide, and all except the business streets
capable of being improved with a street park outside the curb line; as,
for instance: On the one hundred feet streets, pavements twelve feet
wide and a park or double row of trees outside the pavement, and planted
twelve feet apart so as to admit of a grass plat between, may be made on
both sides the street. This will leave on the one hundred feet streets a
roadway fifty-two feet wide; with pavements as above, and parks fifteen
feet wide, will leave a roadway on the one hundred and twenty feet
streets of sixty feet; while on the business streets a ninety-foot
roadway was thought to be amply sufficient for the demands of trade.
Reservations of about twelve acres each were made for the state house,
state university, and a city park, these being at about equal distances
from each other.
Reservations of one block each were made for a courthouse for Lancaster
county, for a city hall and market space, for a state historical and
library association, and _seven_ other squares in proper locations for
public schools. Reservations were also made of three lots each in
desirable locations for ten religious denominations, upon an
understanding with the parties making the selections on behalf of the
several denominations, that the legislature would require of them a
condition that the property should only be used for religious purposes,
and that some time would be fixed within which suitable houses of
worship, costing not less than some reasonable minimum amount, should be
erected. One lot each was also reserved for the use of the Independent
Order of Good Templars, and Odd Fellows, and the order of Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons. These reservations were afterwards confirmed by the
legislature, with conditions recommended by the commissioners, and
religious denominations were required to build on their reserved lots
previous to or during the summer of 1870.
In anticipation of the completion of the survey, due advertisement
thereof was made as provided by law, and a sale of lots opened at
Lincoln on the 17th day of September, for the purpose of raising the
necessary funds for commencing the construction of the state house.
Owing to the unpropitious state of the weather but few bidders were
present, and the results of the first day's sales were light and
disheartening; during their continuation, however, circumstances were
changed for the better, and at the end of five days $34,000 had been
realized. Subsequent sales were held at Nebraska City and Omaha, which
by the fourth day of October had increased that amount to the sum of
$53,000. Sales were subsequently held at Lincoln on the seventeenth of
June and September, 1868, from which were realized the sum of $22,580.
On the tenth of September, 1867, the commissioners issued their notice
to architects, inviting, for a period of thirty days, plans and
specifications for a state house; and upon the tenth of October, after
having considered the merits of the several plans presented, they
concluded to accept that of Prof. John Morris, of Chicago, whom they
thereupon appointed superintendent of construction, and issued notice to
builders, inviting proposals for a term of three months, for the
erection of the work; Prof. Morris in the meantime commencing such
preliminary work as excavations for foundations, delivery of material
for foundation, and other arrangements as should tend to facilitate the
progress of the work after the contract was let.
On the tenth of November the superintendent caused the ground to be
broken in the presence of a number of the citizens of Lancaster, the
removal of the first earth being awarded to Master Frele Morton Donavan,
the first child born in, and the youngest child of the oldest settler of
Lancaster county.
On the eleventh of January, 1868, the bid of Mr. Joseph Ward, proposing
to furnish the material and labor, and erect the building contemplated
in the contract for the sum of $49,000, was accepted, and from that time
forward the work steadily progressed, with the exception of a few
unavoidable delays, until its completion.
On account, however, of the increasing wants of the state, the
difficulties attending, the changes of material and increased amount of
work and additional accommodation found necessary and advisable, the
commissioners deemed it expedient to exceed the amount of expenditure
contemplated in the statute; the additional expense being defrayed from
the proceeds of the sales of lots and lands appropriated for that
purpose.
It was originally intended that the walls of the building should be
built of red sandstone, and faced with blue limestone, but upon
proceeding with the work the architect and builder found that the
difficulties attending the procuration of the last named material would,
unless the object was abandoned, result in an impossibility of the
completion of the work at contract prices; and in so far retarding its
progress as to prevent its erection in time for the use of the next
session of the legislature. Its use, therefore, was accordingly
abandoned, and it was decided to substitute in lieu thereof the
magnesian limestone of Beatrice, which the experience of the architect
had proved to be of far better character for building purposes than the
blue limestone, it being less liable to wear or damage from frost or
fire or any other action of the elements.
This change having been made, the work was pushed vigorously forward,
and on the third day of December, 1868, was so far completed as to be
ready for the occupancy of the state officers, and the governor,
therefore, on that day issued his proclamation announcing the removal of
the seat of government from Omaha to Lincoln and ordering the
transportation of the archives of the state to the new capitol.
AN INCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN
BY ORTHA C. BELL