Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-24
John Lee Webster Tenders Z. Z
and Governor Accep~ = Z
OLDEST SETTLER" AT Pa q
S. D. Bouvier, Who Came to St Z.
1853, Among Audience.
G. D. wATTIEs GIVES GRAFTON
Tells How Death of Governor Burt
aud AchiVIty of Early Omahans
HObbed Bellevue of Metro
pOIitan Honor.

Old Bellevues one hundredth annivers-
airy has passed into history, with the many
other events set down opposite the name In
Times index. All OF Thursday was given
to the celebration in Bellevue, ana an even
ing meeting was DEVOTED to 1t In Omaha
"A handsome little monument which will |
speak OF the celebration of the day to later !
generations was rendered to the state of |
Nebraska by John Lee Webster, president |
Of the Nebraska State Historical society, |
and was formally accepted by Governor
Shallenberger. The governor promised to
direct the attention of his successor to the |
need of caring for and maintaining the !
monument
Mrs. oreal S. Ward, regent of the Ne |
braska chapter, Daughters of the Amerl- |
can Revolution, pulled the United States
flag off the monument, unveiling 1t to the
gaze OF several hundred cid cnd young Ne
Draskans who had gathered cbout. In do
ing so she mado patriotic little speech,
which was well received, and as the flag
rose a group of Daughters reclted the
pledge of fealty to the flag.
In the group surrounding the monument
during the presentation and acceptance was
s. d. Bouver, on whose breast was a
badge bearing the words, oldest Settler
In Nebraska" He came as a small boy, in
49, and has lived for fifty-sevent years on
the same farm, about twenty miles north
OF Omaha.
Another spectator surprised and delighted
the old-timers by dropping in to help at the
dedication, after an absence of forty-eight
years. This was T. p. Cook, general sup
erintendent OF the Western Union Tele-
graph company in Chicago. He was accom-
panied by his sister, Mrs. John NJ Enochs
Mr.. Cook IN In "a 4
car. bringing along his son. NJ. I. Cook
"And after this dedication is finished l am
going out to see the old farm where we
had our first home" said Mr.. Cook. The
farm is now occupied by William Miller
'- lIRny, OIal-plIacrs at Hand.
There were also In the group about the
monument numbers of men and women who
came to Nebraska in 50 and the years i'm
medlately following. In fact, but few of
the old settlers were missing from the
gathering in the town that one day almost
achieved the point of leaving Omaha still
a village
In closing his presentation speech, ad-
dressed to Governor Shallenberger, John
Lee Webster said
las our forefathers all along the Atlantic
coast Venerate the memories of their
earliest settlers, may we likewise venerate
those who are the founders of the begin
ming Of our state history. This occasion is
one of more than ordinary Importance. 1t
viii not be strange il those who come 100
years after our days shall look back
through the pages of history to ascertain
what we, who are now here, are doing on
this occasion. 1t is befttng and approp-
riate that this monument shall be pre-
served, protected and maintained by the
state of Nebraska as one of the muni-
high civilization. In this spirit and with
tins hope the State Historical society turns
this monument over to the keeping OF the
state Of Nebraska"
The governor OF the state accepted the
stone memorial of notable incident of
hundred years ago in the like spirit He
called attention TO the fact that while
we are not as yet a thoroughly homogene-
GUS people, 1t is high time the state, and
t..O citizens thereof. should begin to take
irlde and an interest in promoting and
establishing historical monuments OF this
character.
The monument stands on the highest
point OF the hill that slopes TO the village
from the door OF the recitation hall Of
Bellevue college, n most slightly location.
Mtg Crowd Hears Addresses.
From the monument the exercises were
opposite Bellevue park. Here probably
1850 people had gathered to listen to
speeches by John Lee Webster, G. w. Wat
ties, Albert Watkins and Governor Shallen-
berger. Green's band played old-tlme airs
and a quietet OF South Omaha men sang
fayorte old songs Edward p. Boxer
rendered a vocal solo and James Carley
played cornet solo.
> Nj. Webster rapidly and eloquently
skelchcd the settlement and development
OF tie west before introducing Mr.. Wat
ties, who said:
"1his early trading post was the first
welcome sign OF civilization TO those re-
turning from the wilderness that lay be-
yond. 1t was here that Governor Burt,
the first territorial governor, came. and
but for his untimely death this would un-
doubtedly have been the first capital of
the territory. 1t was here where the first
Presbyterian mission established in the
territory was located In lS4l. The first
court OF record was opened here by Judge
Fenner Ferguson in March, 1855. The first
republican convention met at Bellevue In
August 1863.
1t has been truly said that God made
the country, but men make cities II
cannot be denied that Bellevue. with its
beautiful plateau, was designated by ma
ture 10 De the site OF great city. and
but for the activity OF the early settlers
in Omaha, this today would be the COM
meroial center OF Nebraska while Omaha
would be struggling village. The fut-
ure OF Bellevue would no doubt have been
settled but for the death OF Governor Burt
Again It's future would have been fixed
but for the change OF plans al the last
moment in the building OF the Union Pa
clfic bridge across the Missouri river
Bellevue may be poor in other respects.
but II is rich In historic Importance in
: the annals Of cur state.
Pesert TheOry Now LudIcrOus.
IN lS9S the North American Review said