The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-01-11
HISTORY AND "REMINISCENCES
JAY AMOS BARRETT

The following rather interesting pas
sage from the diary Of Moses Merrill
touches the Mormons in their early
lions. 1t will he remembered by stu
dents Of history that the Mormons were
moving westward many years before
they reached the chosen valley. in the
desolute SKETCHES Of country by the lake
Of salt. And long before the historic
strife in Illinois. they were gathered in
numbers in Missouri territory. Under
date Of July %, 1888, and from the
Shawnee Indian camp or mission, Mr..
Merrill says: THE Mormonites, who
have fixed uyon jackson county, Mo-,
as the holy land, and have settled large.
ly in it, are now greatly disturbed by
the other part of the inhabitants. Two
Of their chief speakers, Partridge and
- have been tarred and feathered
openly in the day time by large num-
Der. This Sas done on the Goth inst,
at Independence, Mo-, the county town.
The people at large are intent upon ex-
polling them from the county. The
Mormons as body are said to be poor.
ignorant, deluded class oil citizens. yet
industrious and honest. The leaders are
regarded as avaricious, overbearing men,
riding upon the poor followers, who are
required to put their money into the
b nds of the principal men,"
In September, 1919, Major Stephen
H. Long, with his company. arrived in
the region of the Plates mouth, and
commented on the scenery there and the
rivers as follows: Two miles and
half above the mouth Of the Platte, and
on the same side. is that Of the Papilliou,
a stream of considerable length, but
discharging little water. Here We found
two boats belonging to the Indian trad
ers at st. Louis. They had passed us
two days before, and were to remain for
the winter at the mouth of the Papilion,
to trade with the Otoes, Missouries, and
other Indians. The banks Of the Mis-
souri, above the Platte have long been
freguented by the Indians, either as
places OF permanent or occasional resi-
Gence. Deserted encampments are often
seen. On the northeast side, near the
mouth OF the Mosquito river. are the re
mains of an old Ioway village. Four
miles above and on the opposite side.
was formerly village Of the Otoes. On
the 18th Of September We arrived at the
trading establishment Of the Missouri
fur company, known as Fort Lisa, and
occupied by Mr.. Manual Lisa, one Of the
most active persons engaged in the Mis-.
souri, fur trade. We were received by
salute from this establishment. and en-
camped little above, on the same side
of the river Longs First Expedition,
l., 144-45. Their winter quarters. he
says, twas on the west bank Of the Mis-
eouri, about half mile above Fort
Lisa, five miles below Council Bluffs, and
three miles above the mouth Of Boyer's
river" this river flows from the Iowa
side).
The passage below. taken from Ne
braska in 1857" by James NJ. Wool
worth, may be of interest to most Lin
coluites, although there are few copies
Of this book in the city. Under the sub
title THE Salt Interest one reads
Up. 103): "On the eastern borders Of
Lancaster county, on Salt creek in a
basin, formed by bluffs, in which are
some ten springs Of salt water. The
creek runs through the basin and the