Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-04
WHEN NANCE WAS STARTING
Circumstances Under Which He
Rose to Be Governor.
BIT OF NEBRASKA HISTORY TOLD
the Young Lawyer Came to the
state and How He Climbed
the Ladder.

the Ladder.
HoLDREGE. Neb.. Jan. ls.-To the
Editor OF The Bee: I recently read with
much regret your quite lengthy article
referring to the life and death OF ex-
Governor Albinus Nance. This carried
me to thinking back TO the time when
] first met the governor at Kewsnee. Ill,
his old home. At that time he was what
YOU might call a fairly grown boy, solid
and compact. showing a great deal Of
self reliance and confidence in himself.
As YOU stated in your article he was the
son Of DR.. Nance of kewanee. very
prominent physician. a great financier,
aud highly educated. His mothers maiden
name was Smith. sister OF Judge Arthur
Smith of Galesburg. H.. a very high and
intellectual family. At one time the gov
efnor's mother visited him while he was
governor at Lincoln, and at his request
we called on her at the hotel. and l
must say she was one Of the most mag
nificent old ladies that have ever met.
Albinus Nance could not have avoided
being a strong man intellectually. morally
and physically. His parents were both re-
Inarkable people. After meeting him at
Hewanee / later moved 70 Lincoln and
lost sight Of him until one day I re-
eeived a letter from him Informing me
that he was located on homestead in
Polk county. Nebraska, and that he was
coming down to see me with view Of
looking up location for q law office,
which promptly answered, inviting him
20 come TO Lincoln. He came and we had
0 very pleasant time together, and urged
npon me the necessity Of his locating in
law practices at Lincoln. My practice was
not sufficient to divide with him. Ny
heart went out to him. and l knew
must say or do something for him. After
seflecting over the situation for a day
and a night, ! urged him TO open up a
law office at osceols. the county seat
OF Polk county. then a very small town
with no railroads.. hardly any people.
money or business there. yet l knew he
could build up law practice there. for
at that time there was no lawyer In
Polk county, rs | remember. being In
,si5, and often made the trip across the
rrairies by the salt basin near Lincoln.
on the ridge running parallel with Oak
creek, through Lancaster county, then
through Seward. then across the high
prairies in Seward county and following
up the Blue to Ulysses. then across the
high prairles to oseeola, passing many
cod houses. farmers working with oxen.
Any kind OF team they could get and all
kinds Of wagons and plows.
Afraid of osceoIa.
When mentioned TO the governor about
opening a law office at Osceols. lie looked
, at me with surprise and sstonishment and
proEpptly ,snSwered ION. would stafve to
death | knew he naturally had great
ambition. and II was clear 10 me that
had TO get al him in some other manner
to induce him to locate at Osceoia. Then
the thought struck me OF arousing his
political ambition. and ! suggested to him
that l believed he could manage TO be
nominated and elected upon the repub-
fican ticket as a member OF the house
for the coming legislature. with this
proposition he appeared to be better
pleased from the expression OF his
countenance and answered me saying.
why don't know any OF the county
officials at osceola- only know one or
two tradesmen | have been dealing with
there"
j then told him / was acquainted with
all Of them and that would give him
some good strong letters of introduction
70 the county officials. and especially
John II. Mickey. who afterwards became
governor. To this he readily consented,
and accepted the best letters OF introduce
ton | knew how TO write for him. and
later received a letter from him stating
he had located as an attorney at osceola.
later he carried out the plan and became
q member OF the house Of representative
OF Nebraska
In the Legislature.
lie came down to Lincoln as a member,
and surely he was proud and happy
young man when he came, and myself,
felt about as good as he did about 1t. l
was very fond Of him and formed deep,
heartfelt love as man for man for him.
Later on when We were converting at
one time l urgently suggested TO him 10
venture 10 try TO become the speaker OF
the house and reelection. and told him
at the proper time ahead ! was sure he
could become member OF the United
States house Of representatives ~or gov
! ernor OF Nebraska. This was too big a
proposition for him, and he appeared
modest and blushed like a school boy. /
then opened up q line Of argument with
- satA fra \ -
material that was in him better than he
knew himself. and urged him to so ahead.
He then promised me he would think Of
It. lie did think Of it and acted accord
inely.
When ne came down to the republican
convention at Lincoln as a candidate for
the nomination Of governor, he promptly
came TO my office and after we had a
pleasant talk together. he turned a big
pair Of black. earnest eyes on me and
said: II want to know how the Lancaster
delegation stands. and want you to find
out and let me know soon"
Nominated for Governor.
or course made the promise, promptly
called on General Cobb and Attorney T.
Il. Marquette. at that time my good
friends, and Informed them wanted TO
know how the delegation stood They
both Informed me without hesitation that
the delc CATION Was made up for another
Candidate and could not be changed. AT
the appointed time the governor was at
my law office and>when informed him
Of what General Cobb and T. II. Mar
quetts had told me. he Appeared dumb
founded and SPECIFICS, and there were
several big tears rolled down his cheeks
He recovered himself. and made some
very violent expressions. cautioned him
% make no such expressions TO any one
else. was much grieved and affected
10 behold his great disappointment, deep
feeling and tears. and knew | must do