Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-25
N0RETeEC ScH00L

tSSL&6l of Omaha. CAbanne arrived in the early
'2Os, and shortly before his death visited Florence
and pointed out the location Of old landmarks in
company with W. H. Woods of Fort Calhoun. who
il living encyclopedia concerning the early days in
this section OF Nebraska
In 1870, or whereabouts. the first real building
was done In Florence The Bank of Florence
occupies a structure put mp In 1854. J. Nd. Parker
conducted a small bank In this building, in the in
fancy Of Florence and his daughter, Mrs J. B. Bris
bin. wife Of the present president of the bank
born in the building.
The arrival of the first Mormon 'trekkers." in
June 1876, has by many been regarded as the real
start Florence but they found convenient place
to STOP midway the continent because they could
easily supplies needed for the balance of the
trip and it delightful place to rest and
cuperate from the trials Of the famous march to the
Great Salt Lake valley. From June 1886, to April,
1S47 the bulk of the first detachment remained at
Florence Where Brigham Young, the leader. lived
is the home of DR.. w. l. Ross the west front
Of the city park The main residence shows IT was
at least partially built long time and just back
Of it. elevated either flank two separate smaller
houses that II located in the Mormon country in
the old days would easily be taken the residences
of the wives Of some member OF that clan
Florence was the temporary capital Of Ne
braska at the time the legislature became engaged in
the fight over capital removal while in session in
Omaha majority of the Legislators left the hal In
Omaha and enconced themselves at Florence, where
no HARM until the better angels" of their nature
ended the deadlock
J. c. Mitchell was the publisher Of the first news
paper issued at Florence He bought the former home
OF Brigham Young and lived in IL for some time.
Mitchell was one OF those who took life seriously
and did non have near as much fun E. l. PlatE
present editor OF the Florence paper. is having
J. J. Smith az old-timer Of the northern suburb
remembers with reminiscent soy the time when the
place had $4,000 inhabitants, for few days. This
happy congregation assembled when the Mormons
made their winter camp in Florence Gnd two Indian
sncAmpments also in evidence, with several thou
sand redskins in them. part OF what Was then the
biggest store in Florence is the upper portion OF
The ice cream parlor the end OF the street car line
Ant after the their tents for other pas
lures and the Mormons went TO their New Jerusa-
lem Florence began 10 fade and many OF the buildings
were moved bodily to Omaha Within recent years
though the desrabity Of the high land IN the Flor
epee limits has appealed very strongly to those banker
ing for suburban life Many substantial citizens OF
Omaha have also built sumner homes for themselves
ON the hills about Florence and in the vicinity Of
Prizes lake SO that every morning and evening good
many hundred men and women travel into Omaha
ana back again for scent fare the street cars
In common with the old towns boosters these people
assert Il is the best lighted best watered best paved
and best peopled suburb around Omaha They VIII
admit with a smile that some trifng difficulty has
arisen over pavement but that ii win be settled
without tearing up brick blocks knocking down
the curbs.
One Of the places thar draws the attention Of ths
Investigating visitor Florence is the old Mormon
cemetery It has been allowed TO fan into sad stats
Of neglect and headstonss and heAdboards lyinl
about IN the grAas number OF enclosures are sur
rounded by iron fences but marks indicating
who sleeps within Some of tAs graves date bach II