History of Omaha from the Pioneer Days to the Present Time

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ...coon, and runs a bully ferry (Shinn's ferry). We mustn't bother him any more.' Thereupon they quieted down, and the elder proceeded with his sermon without any more serious interruption. Soon after the elder had returned to his pulpit, I heard one of the bullwhackers, spread full length under his wagon, singing as if he never had a care: 'I'm a bull-whacker, for Jrom home, If you don't like it, just leave me alone--Eat my grub when hungry, drink when dry; Whack, punch, swear, and then lie down and die.' That same afternoon the elder had handbills distributed around in the camps, giving notice that he would preach at the' Big Elm Trees, ' near the military bridge. Between three and four hundred pilgrims and bull-whackers gathered there and attentively listened to him. No other minister would have had a corporal's guard for a congregation from such men. I have no doutt that the elder sowed some gospel seed here and there in that crowd. About this time A. D. Jones was selling groceries on the corner where the Commercial bank is now located. Sam Orchard was engaged in the same business in a building where the U. S. express office now stands. So also was George Clays, in a small way, in a one-story building, which has long since disappeared, at the northeast corner of Farnam and Thirteenth streets. The lot on which the postoffice stands was used as a corral. Kountze Brothers occupied a little one-story frame building, where the Nebraska National bank now is. Billy Hughes was their bookkeeper. A. J. Hanscom's residence was on the lot now covered by Duke's hardware store, No. 1404 Douglas street. From that point to the military bridge was the fashionable drive, oing to Bovey's row, now St. Catherine's academy, and to Col. Richey's house--a red...