Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-08
little e}enr;nes4s e Nsasb24 towns
l1| Blu Edward Black 9

Those who have been following
this series Of little journeys may be
surprised to learn that the first tele-
graph message sent from Nebraska
was flashed across \ wire from
Brownville to St. Joseph, Mo-, on
August 20, 1860, which event Is
within the memory of many men
and women now living in this state.
That day and date marked an
epochal occasion in this picturesque
little town on the Missouri river.
The company which opened the
first telegraph line in Nebraska was
known As the Missouri and West
ern Telegraph company, whose Off
GERS were: Charles H. Stebbihs,
president; Robert c. Clowry, super
intendent; H. M. Porter, superin-
tendent of construction. They ex-
tended Z line also from Brownville
to Julesburg, and on September 10,
1860, opened line from Brownville
to Omaha. Mr.. Clowry, once res
ident of Omaha, later became = ma
tional parsonage in telegraph at
fairs. He now resides in larry
town-on-t Hudson.
The first telegraph message
flashed to the world from this state
was a brief greeting from the citi-
zens Of Brownville to the people of
the United States. The occasion
was observed in Brownville by an
address by Col. G. H. Nixon, who
was in charge of the United States
land Office. Bonfres, a band and
barrel Of wine served to further
enliven the event.
Days of the Steamboat.
If we could take a Retrospective
view of the days of busy steamboat
transportation, we might see as
many as six packet boats tied up at
the Bfownville wharf on the same
day. This was a hustling, busting
river town during the days when its
promoters cherished fond hopes of
living to see Brownville become a
great metropolis. During 1856 elev-
en- packet boats piled the river be-.
tween St. Louis and Omaha by way
Of Brownville, and during 1857 there
were A boats in this service. The
first wheat shipped from this state
was forwarded by boat from Brown
vile, consigned from Theodore Hill
September |, 1861.
The name of Robert w. Furnas
will forever be associated with
Brownville, although his activities
grew to be of statewide impor-
lance. He has been honored with
the encomium of "the Father of Ne
braska Horticulture" He stepped
from a steamboat at Brownville on
April 6, 1856, with IS cents as his
working capital, and by dint of per-
severance, made a place for himself
in the agricultural, political, mill
tary, educational and editorial &C
tivities of his state. The first copy
of the Nebraska Advertiser" was
issued by him at Brownville on
June 7, 1856. He was the second
governor after the admission of Ne
braska as a state, and he was the
author of the first common school
law of this state. He organized the
first public school board of Ne
braska. Acting Governor Morton
commissioned him as colonel of the
territorial militia and the president
gave him a commission as colonel
in the regular army. The Arbor Day
Memorial association, which was
organized in Nebraska City, elected
him as president. He and J. Ster-
ling Morton were colleagues for
many years. He was president OF
the first territorial fair which was
held in Nebraska City. Through his
influence many Nebraska orchards
were started.
Wanted to Join Kansas.
Among the many historic events
OF Brownville was a delegate con-
vention held on January 5, 1859, to
consider annexation of the South
Platte country to Kansas. Strong
political feeling had been engen-
dered between the North and South
Platte districts. By joining Kansas
many residents of the South Platte
country believed they would obtain