Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 3, 1910, Page 24

A THE OMAHA SUNDAY arking the Passage of the Pioneers of Empire on Nebraska’s Soil e e § ) B 3§ BE [RS1E15151515k [2f \ IHE NEDBRASH HISTORICAL VAN DOODUU Ufnveflmg o Orcgon'fi'afl Momument at Kearney. Neb. Sune 92 I tablet erected at Bellevue. June 23, in commemoration of the first white settlement in Nebraska, brings to mind the general scope of a trail marker movement now under way throughout the west. In many places be- tween the Missouri river and the Pacific coast bands of latter day patriots, usually inspired by some organisation of women, have erected monuments designating the historic importance of spots the figures in the ploneer history of the western coun- try. A few yoears ago the old Santa Fe trail from Independence, Mo. down through Kansas, and over ihto New Mexico was officlally fixed and marked at frequent in- torvals. That was @ rather stupendous undertaking, but a few energetic, determ- ined women carried the proposition to suc- cessful termination, and now the future generations who look to history for the story of the Santa Fe trail and the mingled romance and tragedy enacted in connec- tion with it, may amplify their historical research by viewing the markers which officlally describe the route over which the trail once ran. There is nothing now to indicate the course of the Santa Fe trafl except these markers, for advancing eivilization bas brought the plow into the rorefront and for most part new ecarth are now upturned oxen hoof descended upon =oil never been stirred by cultivator Then there is the Oregon trail which in point of futerest to Nebraskans eclipses the Santa Fe trail. Only a few weeks ago, June 9, 10 be exact, there was unvelled at Kearney, Neb,, a splendid monument mark- ing the Oregon trall. Public spirited and patriotic women, among whom was Mrs. Charles O. Norton, committee chairman, led the way for the Kearney monument. Its formal unvefling was a big day In Kearney. No matter how faithfully historians strive for accuracy, there is always danger of discrepancy as to details which of them- selves may appear minor, but which with the fllght of time take on expanded sig- nificance. It was a less difficult task ten years ago to establish disputed points In history than it is today, and by the same token it is easier today than it will be ten years hence. Therefore, before all of the old timers have passed away, while at least some of the early day argonauts are still here to help sift fact from fiction— and fiction 18 never wanted in history—it is well to carry forward the old trails movement to satisfactory finish. Of all the tralls, the Oregon, the Santa Fe and the Pike's peak, It is generally furrows of where once that had » spontaneous) conceded that in point of historic interest, the Oregon leads. This worderful high- way came (o be known as a natlonal road, although at no time was It in any sense under government supervision, It betook national character, because it was the royte traversed by a national movement. It was a route, every mile of which was at some time or other reddened by human blood. It was the route taken by seekers atter that El Dorado for which the human race has ever sought. It was the route of stern determination—a route over which empire bullders journeyed. Wholly innocent of engineer's handiwork, untouched by transit from beginning to end, unsurveyed as to mountain pass, and with streams unbridged, this roadway sprang Into existence to needs of a primitive, onrusning public. Nowhere else except in Siberia did ever exist & continuous road of such length. And, although untouched by d or scraper, it was a good most part of the B0 far as visible gns are concerned, the Oregon trail in ebraska is now 2y obliterated, and peaceful farm scenes nave come to take the place Indlan carnival. However, thentic record as to the route and the marker Kearney s & link in the meet the road, too, for year once occupled by there is au- location of the ntly erected at chain of histori- . KNI S LA A TP LRI, DT WIS Y SRS Oregon Trail Marker at Kearney Dpreservation. ing from Council Bluffs, kept The Oregon , and Leavenworth entering Ne- southern bor- “Oregon trails is of shimmering el traversed by mighty trains of modern scalp and that mouth of the Laramie river the route also started from Branches of Independenc very pala may make ho sends home on posteards Drama: Discarded S of his life. He quit drinking, joined the church and, with the change of his char- acteristics came the softening of his heart and he yearned for his son, whom he had seen leave home in & fit of anger many years before. Hundreds of dollars were spent with the detective agencies ard daily newspapers of the country fin to locate the bow, for son was then a wealthy on, Reipientant Fathéf, Fortune visited this Nebraska City for a couple of yesrs, coming home to help with the farm work in the summer, and his getting out from the meager en- vironments of his own home had given him new ideas and he asserted the fact that he desired to go to Tecumseh that day in a manner that entirely displeased “Scotch’ John, his father. A fierce guarrel between father and son ensued. “John Wilson, I wish you were in Never let your body darken my door or your shadow appear in my house again while I live!” These were the parting words young Wilson heard as he picked up & few of his personal belongings and left his home, despite the pleadings and tearful entreaties of his mother. Young Wilson went directly to Belleville, Kan,, and prepared to practice law. He remained there until 1¥ when he resolved to change Real Life UITE like a romance, Indeed, prepared for light reading, is the story of the death, broken- hearted, of Judge John Wilson and his faithful old wife of Tecumseh, Neb., and finally the return of their long-sought son to claim an estate left him by the parents. John and Ellen Wilson lived in northern Scotland, the father being but little better than a day laborer, and yet he devoted & considerable of his spare time to the read- ing of Blackstone. Two sons were born to them, and later, about 150, they came to the United States and located for @ time In New England. Mr. Wilson was poor and the little family was making demands upon him. He familiarized himself with the homestead laws and, fully fifty years ago, came to Johnson county, Nebrasks, and filed upon & quarter section of land in Epring Creek precinct. This homestead re- mained the family homestead for a great many years. Both Mr, and Mrs. Wilson were of true Scotland type and clan, and their characteristics were strange. Mr. ‘Wilson became knows to his neighbors as “Scotch” John Wilson, and that title he carried to his dying day. He was some- what tyrannical in his disposition and pre- valled over the members of his family in & barsh, commanding way. This character- {stic became more pronounced as Mr. Wil- son became addicited to drink and, at times his deportment was almost unbearable, The mother was quite the contrary. She Wwas & feithful helpmeet and her consola- tion and consultation was the refuge of the boys when the father seemed, and was, unduly severe upon them. The whole family would work in the flelds, Mrs. Wil- won belug as good at plowing and some of the other field work as the men. During the winter months the boys were allowed 10 attend the nearby country school, a lit- tla stone structure, where an old-time schoolmaster was in charge. As soon as the crop season would open the boys were taken out of school and put to work, & custom practiced by all the settlers and by many of the well-to-do farmers even to this day. gested that the son might have returned to Scotland, and forthwith Judge and Mrs Wiison returned to their old home in that country led to in gate, clue son could be found. Later a visited Tecumseh and a boy handed the judge one of his bills, “Your an endeavor past and future told, desired secrets otch” John Wil- vcaled, lost friends located” 50 man. It was sug- the bill read. JuMge and mysterious person clairvoyant told them they were the loss of a child and that found in the mines of Alaska, locating the exact spot. Judge and Mrs. Wilkon made the trylng trip to the far north and xought far and near in the country their boy, but without avail. A certai 1 they visited said he knew young Johi d that he was working in a mine. This and the mourning he would be man agreed to carry parents to the son, and a year the man visited Tecumseh, he and M Wilson that the been dellvered, but that answer. At another time a descriptio Scotechman who had gotten into trouble and Into the Kansas penltentiary was sent the judge, who went to the Kansas prison and (nspected the man there a from tie at a later, when told message priva been boarding wher literally by old residents of their home community, & as by persons of a curlous disposition tirst in was Dorsey they have me well One see Mr, of Crab of Wilson. Wil- A conversation and proce the clairvoyant of there of the Wilson George Orchard, a former “chum son did not recognize him followed, in which Mr. Dorsey asked Mr Wilson if he remembered the horses he drove to the plow last upon the farm. Mr Wilson called their names at once, de- scribed them in detail and told of a marked characteristic of of the ani- mals . Establishing His Tdenity. “Did you have a dog at your house, Mr, Wilson?" Mr. Dorsey asked wis men to come to of described f re-* on u Wilson a and hell! Mrs, His son was not Remembered Boy in Will. Although both Judge and Mrs. Wilson died broken-hearted, they each lived greatly in the hope that their son would return to them and that they would se him before they died. Judge Wilson died five years ago last winter, and before his golng alled an'attorney and made his “Did we.” was the respons will, His estate, valued at about $30,000, son. “Well, I 8 had his profession and to go out and see some- way left to his widow, and, at her de est shepherd ever thing of the country. He drifted from place RN \ - y e it secome the property of their son Hed to place over many states of the union and 3 s\ Wilson, jr., should he with hic decidedly bobbed-tailed the finally stopped at Houston, Tex., and after the death of the wife and was, This was correet entered the service as shop man for the mother. Should he, « heirs fail, ic ou have Southern Pacific. An opportunity was of- claim it within flve years it ¥0 Dorsey quizzed fered for him to become an engineman; he 1o three nephews, John and Duncan Kinne Yes, 1 had a was soon promoted from fireman to engineer burg and Donald Black, all Johngon coun He died follow and held the throttle on Southern Facific farmers. Jud, Wilson asked old g your father, M trains in Texas for twenty years. friend, A. C. Bullivan, & business' man of ,,e0n in which we Something like & year ago he became very 4o RpelL. 10 854 8% EEaSIaRA sick_and the attending physician told him st oo an BBl MBI AN Mo wavl. BIOMERI) SI0 15 WAS S A livan was that the son, if he should claim that he called the wife of his bosom, whom el o s o S S he mirried in Tekad many. years belors questions left the executor by the judge ::‘:I-' t:e:l:‘llde and told her of the incident po ot oY in s ged i Dy A g e A he passing of her hus ed five “The parting words of my father 0 IS ¢ het S l‘ radlrion buined themselves deep into my L 1 iy he told his wife, “but they are old and in- will M poster firm and when [ am gone 1 want son o ¥ou to go to Nebraska and tell them thit 1 frequently thought of them; that I loved them and that I bear them no (Il will." He then went on and told his wife the whole story But the sick wan did and, with his ' wife One ot Omaha’s Modern Apartment Buildinos of Mr. Wil one of the that lived,” and s name and laughed as he told we dogs five claim it canine hig Did ecither brother or siste was to My brother, Abraham by 18 & long sickness, made the name his Dorsey over n buried him.” (o act as exeeutor of the est This was also & Holden, A. W of ect recital Buffum, A, J and other old-time , residents hore stioned the man, and while hix mind {s not quite clear on many of the he will go ahead and recite family and eveuts that transpired ty which would certainly of 1 of the most clever Judge 1. F. Perking met M the street, the of the 1 Jaw Perkin Wilson when Winfield olaln Thompson RN S T 5 TS dozens have estate, istory in th have ry,' memo unless the 0 be o lished, the extate g0 to the now judge's arl father Kinneburg and Black. 1f the claimant can and the set the fortune for the Meir, the death of Judge ; two or three clalmants He well i : ¢ S put all were treated with mis came Nebraska b y i o ¥ - , withdrew. Not with the My, Wilson would not go to Tecuinseh, but # now on the grounds. Word stopped In Lincolu, and here he met Hen- at Houston that if he was the man son Bombarger, a Johuson county farmer could establish his identity that it w who was & boy with him in the little cou desired—being the wish of his dylng par try school years before. Mr. Bombarger ents—that he come on and claim his own did not recognize Mr. Wilson, but Wilson At the same time he was warned that accosted him upon the street with “hello, an Imposter would be prosecuted to the Benis' Bombarger.” In the meantime Mrs, full extent of the law. D. J. Wood of Whison. had goce op fo Tasumath, dof ey Ellis got into communication with him, 1how, and like & great many other old men then learned of the death of Judge Wilson and Wood belng old acqualntances | bave repentance to make for “Scoteh” John Wilson and his wife. here, and the result was that Mr. Wilson, takes I have made Father's Scarch for S his wife, daughter and little granddaught And thus the peopls of “Scotch” Johu Wilson and his came to Nebraska and went firgt to BEllls. @re anxlously awaiting came old and Infirm and left the furm and Mr. Wood clalms Mr. Wilkon established Judge shall name fo moved to Tecumseh. Mr..Wilson was (wice nis identity with him at once. The party case of John Wilson, § clected probate judge of Johnson county then came on 1o Tecum: om- van, executor of the estate of John wnd and made a good officer John ripple of excitement en Wilson. This will probably bé within became a different man i the cit Xt ten days. ng one ul and My his Identity the court executor of h it pioneer er. name | the judge addressips My “Did you know Perking tamily ou lived Ye Mr. Wilson responded; *1 well acquainted with Benjamin Per the lawyer,” and this was Judge Perkn search Following Wilkon Mrs appeared here 10t dle ust and Ly man who was sent him fathe and “Your parents died broken hearted,” ven tured The Bee's represefitative to Mr, Wil- Quarreled Over & Clireus, son. A circus visited Tecumseh one summer day thirty-four years ago, the old John Robinson aggregation coming in an over- Jend caravan. The news had been spread broddcast over the county and John Wil- son, jr., desired to attend. He acquainted his father with the fact and the father, who evidently cared but littie for the pleas- | ures of the members of his family, now consisting of Mrs. Wilson and the sc John, the other son having died. tool, issu with him and 2 quarrel ensued. Young John #had been attending law school lowa “So I am teld,” evidently 1 us was my was the response. have been as set In my ways father. But T am an old man “and the mis this communit the day the probate hearing of the Vi, A. C. Sulli wite be- at and their « od all to pre at betatas Viney X : : ! in hey secured quarters the ne the Jatter yoar HAMILTON, TWENTY-FOURTH AND FARNAM ’ . T st