University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Student Work 12-1-1989 The black experience in selected Nebraska counties, 1854-1920 James D. Bish University of Nebraska at Omaha Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork Recommended Citation Bish, James D., "The black experience in selected Nebraska counties, 1854-1920" (1989). Student Work. 459. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/459 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Work by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN SELECTED NEBRASKA COUNTIES, 1854-1920 A Thesis Presented to the Department of History and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements fojr the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha by James D. Bish December 1989 UMI Number: EP73097 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation; PyMsMng UMI EP73097 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 THESIS ACCEPTANCE Accepted for the faculty of the Graduate College, University of Nebraska, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Committee Name Department — _ j / 7 ^ 7 Chairman Datf^ , / S ' __ Abstract THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN SELECTED NEBRASKA COUNTIES, 1854-1920 This work is a history of the black experience in the fifteen most densely black populated counties in Nebraska, excluding Douglas, from 1854 through 1920. Beginning with the formation of Nebraska Territory in 1854, the thesis studies the population, employment, and social status of blacks living in Nebraska throughout the frontier and post­ frontier eras. Slavery and suffrage are critically examined throughout the territorial period. Following statehood, the impact of black migration into the state is studied, espe­ cially during the years 1879 and 1880. Massive migration of southern blacks into northern states occurred during those years, a result of the termination of military recon­ struction in the South. The reactions of some Nebraska com­ munities are analyzed as blacks began to migrate to their localities in the late 1870s. During the 1880s Nebraskans witnessed a steady but min­ imal flow of blacks into the state, as they settled primari­ ly in towns along railroads, on farms, and at military forts. The prosperity in Nebraska at that time allowed for a lessening of some social and political restraints upon blacks. However, the depression of the early 1890s curbed those restraints as blacks were suffering severely from the worsening economic conditions. During that time blacks faced increased racism and declining social status, forcing some of them to leave the state. It was not until after the turn of the century that blacks again began to return to the state, searching to improve their economic condition. After 1900, blacks throughout Nebraska increasingly found employ­ ment as hotel porters, restaurant cooks and waiters, and general laborers. The black population within the state continued to increase gradually as larger percentages of blacks settled in Omaha and Lincoln, a trend similar to that of other Nebraskans who were moving away from the state's rural areas. Among other things, this thesis provides a comprehen­ sive bibliography for students of black history in Nebraska. In short, this thesis concludes that as blacks ventured to Nebraska from various locations and often of similar econom­ ic circumstances they usually found employment in occupa­ tions deemed suitable for their race. Black settlement of­ ten stimulated anxiety and prejudice among many of Nebraska's citizens. Although most Nebraskans during the period were never engaged in direct overt acts of dis­ crimination, prejudices among some Nebraskans at times mani­ fested violent acts by the white majority against the much smaller black population. As a result, blacks in Nebraska often faced social and political prejudices similar to those simultaneously experienced by other members of their race throughout the United States. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . ................................. ii PREFACE ................................... iv Chapter I. OPEN THE GATE: EMANCIPATION AND STATEHOOD, 1854-1875 ....................................... 1 II. FEARS OF A FLOOD: EXODUSTERS AND NEBRASKA, 1879-1880 ..................... 38 III. A TRICKLE TO A STREAM: BLACK POPULATION INCREASES, 1875-1885 67 IV. HIGH WATER MARK: POPULATION PEAK AND DECLINE, 1885-1900 ........................................ 104 V. HOPES FOR A NEW CENTURY: BLACK HOMESTEADERS, 1900-1930 ........................................ 154 VI. LAND AND A DREAM: BLACK FARMERS, 1870-1930 . .187 CONCLUSION ............................................ 230 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................. 238 i LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure PAGE 1.1 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1860. 16 1.2 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN TERRITORIAL NEBRASKA IN 1860........................................... 17 1.3 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN TERRITORIAL NEBRASKA IN 1860 18 1.4 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1870. 24 1.5 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1870 . 28 1.6 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1870........................................... 29 3.1 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1880. 73 3.2 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1880 . 74 3.3 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1880 ( m a p ) ......................................... 75 3.4 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1880........................................... 76 3.5 OUTSTATE NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH SIXTEEN LARGEST POPULATIONS IN 1885 .. .......................... 93 3.6 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1885 . 94 3.7 NATIVITY OF OUTSTATE NEBRASKA BLACKS IN 1885. 95 3.8 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1885........................................... 96 4.1 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1890. 109 4.2 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1900. 136 4.3 NATIVITY OF OUTSTATE NEBRASKA BLACKS IN 1900 ( m a p ) ......................................... 137 4.4 NATIVITY OF OUTSTATE NEBRASKA BLACKS IN 1900. 138 4.5 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1900..................................... 139 5.1 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1910. 159 ii iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure PAGE 5.2 NATIVITY OF OUTSTATE NEBRASKA BLACKS IN 1910 ( m a p ) ........................................... 160 5.3 NATIVITY OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1910 . 161 5.4 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA IN 1910............................................. 162 5.5 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1920. 167 5.6 NEBRASKA COUNTIES WITH BLACK POPULATIONS IN 1930. 168 6.1 OCCUPATIONS OF BLACKS IN OUTSTATE NEBRASKA FROM . 218 1870-1910.. ...................................... PREFACE These past months of exploring the history of a particular ethnic group culminate years of speculation which began when I listened to my grandmother's stories about the youthful ex­ ploits of her mother, Maggie Patterson. Maggie lived close to and associated with black families who lived north of Overton, Nebraska during the last two decades of the ninetee­ nth century. Maggie's parents homesteaded fifteen miles north of Overton in 1880. Six years later, at the age of fifteen, Maggie began her teaching career after securing a position at Overton Public Schools. Because of the distance, she stayed in Overton during the week and traveled back to her parents' home each weekend. While enroute to her parents' home, she often stopped about halfway to visit, rest, and enjoy a meal at the homes of black settlers before continuing on to her destination. As a young boy growing up in the same area, I was puzzled about what had happened to this black colony, as there were no blacks living in the area during the 1960s. It was not until graduate school, however, that my questions about that Overton black colony resurfaced. In a graduate course on Nebraska history, Dr. Harl Dalstrom mentioned to the class that various groups of blacks had found their way to central and western areas of the state during the late nineteenth century. He mentioned the V existence of a black colony near Overton in central Nebraska. This immediately reminded me of the stories my grandmother had told me and I started to speculate about them once again. These questions eventually led to the development of this thesis concerning black settlement and other experiences of blacks in Nebraska. A word about the framework of this thesis is in order. Research is confined to blacks who once lived in Nebraska. However, for the most part, it does not include the settle­ ment or experiences of blacks within Douglas County and therefore, the city of Omaha. Because of Omaha's urban set­ ting,