Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-04
HALF A CENTURY ron Fremont
Combined with Labor Day
Observnnce.

HALF A CENTURY FOR FREMONT |
Celebration Combined with Labor Day
Observance.
FREMONT, Neb., Sept. S-(special Tsle-
gram.)-The semi-centennial and Labor day
parade this afternoon was the largest and
best ever seen in this city and was wit
messed by one OF the largest crowds that
| ever gathered here. The appearance OF
two ex-confederate soldiers, DR.. T. 7. Sex
| ton of this city and Major ]. A Garner OF
Nickerson, with the Grand Army veterans
| brought out much applause along the
streets. The trades display would have
! done credit to a much larger city At the
| park Rev. w. II. Buss delivered an elo-
quent address appropriate to both phases
Of the celebration.
| Mr.. Ezra Meeker. clad In his brown over
| alls held up by knit woollen suspenders,
| spoke briefly of the associations of the old
! overland trail, and Mrs. M. K. Reynolds
| gave an interesting account Of the tribu-
lations of the old-time >housekeepers over
a lack OF variety for cooking Music was
furnished by the Pohocco Precinct band
and the band from this city. Mayor WOLF
presided
The first parties to reach the city to re-
main here permanently were E. II. Barnard
Robert Kittle, ]. G. Smith, John A. Kountz
and w. F. Lee. They camped just north
Of the old military road near the site Of
| the Congregational church Three miles TO
the south on the high BLUFFS across the
Platte river was the big Pawnee village
containing 1900 or 5000 people. About
mile and half west of their camp was a
log cabin occupied by George p. Marvin
and family. Mr.. Lee left after a few days,
returning later in the fall and spending
tho winter here, The party decided to lay
out town which they did, Mr.. Barnard
making the surveys with the military road,
which was supposed TO run east and west
as base line. The preliminary survey OF
the townsite. which was one mile square
and as the country was unsurveyed located
without regard to section lines was COM
pleted on September D. and the town named
after John c. Fremont. Mr.. Kittle built
| the first house, which was OF hewed logs
on the site OF the Congregational church.
The first family TO locate here permanently
was that OF the late Rev. Isaac f. Heaton
who came here in October with his wife
and two daughters now Mrs. ]. J. Haw-
thorne and Mrs. L. H Rogers. ]. ]. Haw-
thorne, who though not much more than a
boy, had taken an active part in the
slavery struggle in Kansas 49, previous
year, came here the following spring.
| TWO
years were Finley Riggs. J. Townsr Smith,
who with bis brother James G. Smith
established a general store In a dugout;
John Horned s. B. Colson. Theron Nye
e. G. Usher, w. H. Turner, Thomas
Turner, Jacob Zingre. and ]. c. F1oy. The
first year was a hard one for the settlers
In the spring of 1858 the gold excitement in
Colorado lured thousands across the plains
and many of them came by way Of FIRE.
mont. Some were well supplied with money
and business was quite brisk A good many
of the old settlers laid the foundation of
comfortable fortunes by freighting across
the plains from the Missouri river to
Denver and Cheyenne with long strings of
. OK teams. Among the old time freighters
were Z. c. Usher. John c. Flor, Spangler
, Brugh. e. G. Brugh and the Turner's
Freighting was rather precarious business
on account Of hostile Indians and some
stirring tales were told of the experiences
in the western part of the state
In 1859 the first school was established
with Miss Charity Colson as teacher. The
average attendance was thirteen. In 1860
the first telegraph line from Fremont to
: Fort Kearney was established and Ere
mont had communication with the outer
world The town Celebrated it's first Fourth
! of July in 1857 by raising a flag on a
seventy-foot pole in the park. The flag
was of home construction and an object of
; great pride to those who saw 1t floating
in the breeze.
The semi-centennial exercises were held
this afternoon. The stores were closed
and the streets and business houses dec
GRATED with flags and bunting. The parade
, formed at lao o'clock, with Fred De La
Matyre as marshal headed by the band
and Mr.. Ezra Meeker, the Pacific coast
pioneer. with his wagon and team of one
OK and a COW. Mr.. Meeker, with his heavy
white hair and whiskers. attracted much
: attention. Following these came the old
Z settlers in automobiles and the city coun-
T Gil The second section, with ]. H. Math-
n ews marshal. consisted of fraternal So
: cieties, with floats and the fire department
: The Ancient Order Of United Workmen
. Fraternal Union. Rebeccas. Women's Relief
c corps and Sons of Herman, had handsome
r floats, and numerous other organizations
. appeared on foot. The Grand Army of the
e Republic post turned out as numerousy as
: on Decoration day. The labor unions and
e band, under Assistant Marshal Walker,
made a fine display. with 800 men in line.
Following these came the trade display,
with Mr. w. s. Brown as assistant marshal.
= The exercises were held at the city park.
n Valleys Fair In September.
q VALLEY, Neb Sept ESPECIAL 1.-The
c annual fair and agricultural exhibit OF
It the Valley Fair association will be held