History Minutes 003
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HISTORY MINUTE 001 Nebraska Statehood Nebraska was admitted to Statehood on March 1, 1867 by President Andrew Johnson, but only after a long wrangle with the Congress. At issue were voting rights for newly-freed slaves, and the right of states to determine for themselves who should be allowed to vote. The Nebraska state constitution, hurriedly drafted and passed in 1866, restricted the suffrage to white males. Nowhere in the country were women allowed to vote, but many in Congress were demanding Negro suffrage. Radicals on Capitol Hill amended Nebraska's statehood act to include the vote for blacks. President Johnson vetoed the bill, on the grounds that Congress had no right to dictate to any state what its constitution should be. The presidential veto was over-ridden, and President Johnson reluctantly proclaimed Nebraska to be a state. At the time of statehood, Nebraska's black population was almost nonexistent. But the right to vote was guaranteed for all males. It was not until the 1890s that the state constitution was amended to extend suffrage to all people. HISTORY MINUTE 002 Buffaloes Come to Dinner Thousands of buffalo still roamed Nebraska as late as 1875. As the prairie filled with homesteaders, conflict between man and beast was inevitable. One early account reported: "... seven buffaloes were in town, having a red-hot time. One of them effected an entrance into the dining-room of Rumsey's hotel, and broke several chairs in attempting to sit down at the table to make a square meal of antelope steak. Getting his back up at the toughness of the steak, he overturned a table and smashed the crockery ware. Information had in the meantime been conveyed to Mr. James Rumsey, who was out on the warpath, and he returned to turn the intruder out, or else serve him up on the half shell. Just as Mr. R. entered one door, Mr. Buffalo ran out another. R. levelled his gun, but it would not go off, and the buffalo escaped and joined the remaining six, who then turned tail on the town, and cantered over the hills, and far away, after having smashed several windows, creating an intense excitement, and playing the deuce generally." HISTORY MINUTES 003 Early Postal Service When Nebraska territory opened to settlement in 1854, mail was delivered haphazardly. Anyone crossing the Missouri, usually on their own business, might be asked to carry the mail. When there were enough settlers to justify the expense, a contract for mail service was awarded to John B. Bennet and his brother, William. The contract provided for mail to be carried from northeast Kansas to the mouth of the Iowa River, northwest of Sioux City. The Bennets received $3500 a year for the service. Settlements had their own postmasters--usually anyone responsible who could be convinced to bother with the duties. Pay depended on the number of stamps cancelled at the post office. 20 or 25 dollars a year was average. Mail might be kept in a cigar box, or even an old hat. Once a month a long list of "uncalled for" letters would appear in the local paper. By the 1870s, many places had postmistresses. Few men wanted to bother with the position. But the job was ideal for women because they could locate the post office in their homes--often dugouts or soddies. No home delivery-- everyone came to the post office to get the mail. HISTORY MINUTE 004 Mormon Winter Quarters This mild Nebraska winter makes it easy to forget how savage the season can be. But Mormon emigrants, camped in Winter Quarters near Florence, now a suburb of Omaha, experienced winter's ferocity first hand. Winter Quarters served as home to persecuted Mormons fleeing westward in the winter of 1846-47. For years afterwards it was an important outfitting point for Mormons bound for the Great Salt Lake. In the summer of 1846, Mormons crossed the Missouri in great numbers. Some used a Mormon Ferry. Others came across on the ferry owned by noted fur trader Peter Sarpy. By winter, more than 12,000 Mormons were camped along the river. Severe weather settled in, and with it the diseases and ailments common to the winter season. Over six hundred of the Mormon pioneers changed the name from "Missouri Bottoms" to "Misery Bottoms." A lasting reminder of the Mormon's plight can be seen in the Mormon Cemetery, located in the Florence section of Omaha. HISTORY MINUTE 005 Medicine Shows Medicine shows travelled all over Nebraska in the late 1800s, offering cheap entertainment and bottled cure-alls. Travelling by wagon, the show would arrive in town, set up large tents, and begin a two-week run. Shows consisted of vaudeville-like skits, songs, and dance numbers. Between each part of the program, salesmen traveled the aisles, selling the bottled medicine. Some remedies claimed exotic origins. "Kickapoo Indian Sagawa" was supposedly an ancient cure of the Kickapoo Tribe. This rare and powerful remedy sold for the unbelievable low price of one dollar! Bottled medicine was also sold by fast-talking "snake-oil" peddlers. These shysters would hit town, park their wagon on a prominent corner, and start their spiel. Using high-pressure tactics, the medicine man would sell bottles so quickly that he couldn't make change. When he'd collected a fistful of money, but hadn't given back any change, his driver would take off and they'd high-tail it out of town. All the good citizens were left with was a useless potion, and the wisdom that comes from being taken in. HISTORY MINUTE 006 Automobile license plates License plates first appeared on Nebraska cars in 1906, following passage of a law that required each vehicle be registered with the Secretary of State. Registration cost one dollar. A number was assigned to each owner, beginning with "one" and continuing in order of receipt at the Lincoln office. Each auto had to display its number "in Arabian numerals not less than three inches in height." Every car owner manufactured his own license plate. Usually metal numerals were attached to a leather backing. The plates were supposed to be visible at all times. This was nearly impossible, since the road were dusty, rutted trails that became swamps when it rained. The first year, 571 owners registered vehicles. By 1908, 4200 autos were registered. By 1916, there were over 100,000 vehicle registration. A new law in 1913 instructed the Secretary of State to issue a permanent registration number to each owner. This system of permanent numbers continues today. HISTORY MINUTE 007 The Governor & the Legislature As Nebraska's new Governor begins her four year term, she will face many serious and difficult issues. Early governors of Nebraska also faced tough questions. Indeed, they sometimes faced a combative, and downright cranky, legislature! Nebraska's first governor was impeached by legislature, for appropriating some 16 thousand dollars of school funds for his own use. The Lieutenant Governor, William H. James, filled out the remainder of the term, and he too found the going tough! Relations were strained between the executive and legislative branches of government. Conditions in the young state were ripe for uncertainty and unrest. On one occasion, the President of the Senate took advantage of the Acting Governor's absence to convene the legislature into special session--an act quickly revoked by Mr. James on his hurried return to Lincoln. Later, the Acting Governor attempted to discourage the legislature from meeting by shutting off the coal supply to the legislative chambers! Today's Governor may have her disagreements with the Legislature, but we can assume that she won't turn off the heat! HISTORY MINUTE 008 Influenza Epidemic of 1918 This flu season is nothing compared to the influenza epidemic of 1918. Cases of the "flu" appeared in Lincoln and Omaha as early as September, and rapidly spread across the state. The disease came on suddenly, with a fever and profuse perspiration. Soon the victim was overcome by weakness. Death often came within 24 hours. As the flu spread, doctors and nurses were in short supply. By October, the Nebraska State Board of Health issued an order closing public meetings, schools, churches, theaters, and all kinds of entertainment. Mail carriers continued on their rounds, but wore white face masks for protection. After three weeks, the schools were reopened. Teachers and pupils were required to wear masks. The epidemic was deadly. In Omaha alone there were 974 deaths between October 5 and December 31. Merchants sustained heavy losses from light Christmas trade. The "Spanish influenza" of 1918 brought sorrow and suffering to almost every Nebraska community. HISTORY MINUTE 009 Pioneer Winter Travel Today snow and snowstorms can hopelessly snarl Nebraska's traffic, but in pioneer times snow added to the ease and pleasure of travel. A good coat of snow made farm hauling easier, and provided for one of the years's best entertainments--sleigh-riding. Early Nebraska newspapers frequently mentioned sleighing parties in their columns. The Brownville Advertiser of 1861 tells of such an event: "On Saturday evening, a half dozen sleigh loads of 'young folks' went from this city to Rock Port, stopping at Cook's Hotel. They partook of an excellent supper, after which, together with friends of that place, they all joined hands and circled 'round, until the 'wee hours' admonished them to go home with the girls in the morning." A horse-drawn bob-sled, its bed partially filled with hay, served as a luxurious conveyance for such an outing. The jingle of harness bells and the laughter of sleigh-riders could be heard for a long distance over the empty prairie on a crisp, still night--a marked contrast to the honking horns and spinning tires that accompany snow-clogged streets today.