Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-17
N BY edward Black 9

Here we are again in Sarpy coun-
ty, the smallest county of the state
i'll point of area, which is approx
mately 232 square miles. An hours
ride on an interurban line from
Omaha brings us into Papillion, the
Gretna Green for love-lorn couples
OF the metropolis and nearby places.
A few weeks ago we told of the
historical importance of Bellevue,
which was a promising town in its
heyday. 1t was the seat of the
county and the place where Peter A.
Sarpy attained his greatest prom
inence: Sarpy's great dream was to
make Bellevue THE City of the
Plains" as he called it. The late
Henry T. Clarke, whose name was
associated with the county for half
century. took up the ambitions of
Sarpy, but alas and alack, all efforts
failed to resuscitate Bellevue. The
establishment of a railroad terminus
at Omaha chilled the ardor of those
who would have reared a metropolis
at Bellevue. The last blow came in
1875, when Papillion welded the
balance of power by capturing the
county seat.
Referred to Wrestler.
When we arrived in Papillion on
the day after the signing of the
armistice, most Of the leading eiti-
zens were busy with the United War
Fund campaign. Asking for per-
sons and places of interest, one of
the county officials at the court
house referred to Charles Peters, the
strongest man in the county. Our
informant believed that Peters,
prominently known as wrestler,
would be good for two columns at
the least. After subscribing literally
to all war activities, Sarpy county
folks then bet their loose change on
Peters, who manages a hotel across
from the court house.
In a more serious mood, however,
|. D. Clark, nephew of the late H.
T. Clarke, suggested that a place Of
historical interest might be observed
at the Philip Zweibel farm, a few
miles southeast of Papillion. The
old Baptist mission was erected on
this farm in 1883 and was occupied
by Rev. Moses Merrill until 1910,
when he died. The building origin
ally was crude log structure, 16x32
feet, and it was the first protestant
mission house in Nebraska. Parts
which weathered the elements were
patched together and today it is
used as shop and pig pen. The
Rev. Mr.. Merrill was sent here by
the Baptist Missionary society to
work among the Otoe Indians with
whom he and Mrs. Merrill were in
fluential
Otoes Were Powerful.
In 1928 the agency Of the Otoes.
Omahas, Pottawattamies and Paw
nees was at Bellevue. The Otoes
were identified with this part of the
country for many years. They be-
longed to the Pawnee nation. and
during a period of their roamings
lived on the present site OF Omaha.
Lewis and Clark, who were here in
1904 on their famous expedition. re-
ferred to the Otoes as having been
powerful tribe. In 1917 the Otoes
signed treaty of peace and in 1884
they signed another treaty with the
government. In 1882 they were
moved to the Indian territory.
1t is generally believed that
whisky was the undoing of the
Otoes while they lived in Sarpy
county. When Logan Fontenelle
was chief of the Omahas in this
same county he appointed trusted
men OF his tribe to serve as police
in the suppression of intoxication
among his tribe. Fontenelle was
educated and knew the evil results
OF excess. The Otoes had no such
leader Of their own and they were
more susceptible to temptation in
their way.
United States Uniform Found.
Two years ago workmen dug up
remnants Of an old United States
army uniform within 4 few feet Of
the mission. The articles were taken
into the farm house and kept as
souvenirs, but no particular i'm
portance was attached to them un-
til someone thought of telling Rev.
NJ. ]. Shine of Plattsmouth of the
discovery. The articles found were
parts Of fur hat with feathers and
pieces of an officers coat with parts
of the epaulets. There were small
bells, bracelets and beads, such as
were worn by the Indians. Father
Shine Immediately became interested