Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-24

was impending in Utah during 1853,
the government sent General Albert
Sidney Johnston with 5000 soldiers
to the Salt Lake valley. Nebraska
City was the second initial station
for the forwarding of freight over
land by wagons from the steam
boats. On March u, 1858, the gov
eminent entered into contract
with Russell, Majors and Waddell
in the sum of $l,700,000 The full
fllment of this contract required the
use of 1000 wagons, 1000 OK driv-
ers and wagon masters and $4,000
oxen
Busy Days in Nebraska City.
Frank Carson made many trips
to Fort Laramie and remembers
those busy days in Nebraska City.
The drives were long and dreary,
with few houses along the way.
Alexander Majors, founder of the
Pony Express, was one of the trans
portation magnates of his day. He
was stage-line king as well as fore
most in the freighting business. The
late Colonel Cody was one of his
relay riders in the Pony Express
business. 1t is recalled by Carson
and Others that the stage coach fare
from Nebraska City to Lincoln was
So. In 1861 tri-weekly mail line
was established between the Morton
house in Nebraska City and the
fremont house in Omaha
Two years ago, when President
Wilson visited Omaha during the
Ak-Sar-Ben season, Frank Carson
drove Joy Morton's old Concord
stage coach from Nebraska City to
Omaha to appear in the daylight
parade. Thomas Ryan, veteran
Burlington conductor, accompanied
Carson. This old overland coach
was exhibited at the St. Louis ex-
position and is now at Arbor Lodge
Nebraska City. Carson had driven
this same coach many years ago
with the late ]. Sterling Morton as
passenger.
Home of ]. Sterling Morton.
The name of J, Sterling Morton
is first in the list of men who have
given their lives to the upbuilding
of Nebraska City and Otoe county
as we'll as of the state. Morton
reached the heights of national
prominence by serving as secretary
of agriculture under President
Cleveland, and also by founding
Arbor day, which has been given
nationwide recognition and has
been adopted in countries beyond
the United States. He came to Ne
braska on November 10, 1854. set
ting first in Bellevue which at that
time gave promise of great future
Mrs. Morton accompanied him as a
bride from Detroit where Morton
had been associated with the De.
troit Press He moved to Nebraska
City in April, 1855, and straightway
proceeded to be factor in the af-
fairs of his town.
AS publicist, student and editor
Morton was in the front ranks. Dur,
ing his first year in Nebraska City
he was sent to the legislature as
representative from Otoe county
His entrance into politics was at a
time when the south and north
Platte countries began to- contend
for supremacy. He was determined
to have the state capital in the
south Platte country.
Only few months after his ar.
rival in Nebraska his first public
service was in connection with a
movement to recommend. to the
president the proposal of appointing
an acting governor who would re,
side within the territory. At thai
time Nebraska City was contendine
for the state capital. The charge
was that Acting Governor Cunning
who called the first legislature tc
meet in Omaha, resided in Council
Bluffs.
Visit of President Cleveland.
One of the important public
events in the life of Nebraska City
was the unwilling of the Morton
monument, in Morton park, Octo.
Der %, 1905, when Grover Cleve.
land and members of his cabinet It
tended. Arbor Lodge, the old Nor.
ton home, is the prettiest home ii
Otoe county and is a place of unus
ual interest. The rose walk, drive
ways, lawns and trees, remind The
visitor of the great love of nature
which marked the life of the founder
CT Arbor day. And as we turned
around to take one more look a
beautiful Arbor Lodge, we though
of the time when J. Sterling Morton
and his bride occupied log house
in Bellevue, "a years ago this month
Mark Morton, one of his sons, wa.
born in the old Herndon house, Onla
ha, 90 years ago last Friday. Joy
Morton, another son, has gained ma
tional prominence in business. Apri
| p, Arbor day, is the birthday an
niversary of J. Sterling Morton.
First Nebraska State Fair.
| How many know that the frs
Nebraska state fair, or rather ter
ritorial fair, was held in Nebrask;
City? 1t was. The date was Sep
TENDER Fl, 1859. 1t was the frs
territorial fair in the United States
but not the first state fair. Rober
| w. Furnas. the grand old man o
| rownville," was president of tn
| first board of agriculture.
Furnas, known as THE Father o
Nebraska Horticulture" had man,
common interests with J. Sterling
Morton. As president of the frs