HISTORY. The territory now constituting the State was originally a part of the Louisiana Purchase, and afterwards a part of _Missouri Territory. Coronado (q.v.), setting out from :Mexico in -search of the seven cities of Cibola and of Quivira, claimed that in 1541 he journeyed on the great plain as far as latitude 40' N., the southern boundary of the State. There are stories of other Spanish explorations, but halo is known of them. In 1673 Marquette passed the mouth of the Missouri and marked the Platte from Indian stories. Pierre and August Choteau, brothers engaged in the fur trade, went beyond the forks of the Platte in 1762. Lewis and Clark, in 1804-06, skirted the boundary of the present State. The first known settlement, was a trading post founded at Bellevue by Man uel Lisa in 1805. The American Fur Company placed a post here in 1810, and posts were estab lished at Omaha in 1825 and at Nebraska City in 1826. Fort Atkinson was established in 1821, but abandoned in 1827. With the admission of Missouri as a State in 1821, the territory was left practically without government. In 1834 part of the region was attached to Arkansas, the jurisdiction of the district court of Missouri was extended over another part, and a third portion was joined to Michigan Territory. The next year Col. henry Dodge, with a force of dragoons, encamped at what is now Fort McPherson, and commenced negotiations with the Indians look ing toward their removal to reservations. Many tribes of the Eastern Indians were then being transferred to this 'Indian country.' The Mor mons in 1845-46 wintered within the territory, and the next year troops dest hied for service in New Mexico spent the winter at old Fort Kear ney. New Fort Kearney was established on the Oregon trail in 1848. Thousands of gold seekers passed through the territory in 1849-50, and sonic stopped on the way in defiance of the law which forbade settlement among the Indians. In 1844 Stephen A. Douglas, then a member of the Nouse of Representatives, iutroduccd a hill to organize a Territory. but the hill was never re ported from the effinmittee. Another unsuccess ful attempt was made in April. 1818, and still another in December. The Indians, who foresaw the inevitable extension of white settlement, wished for a Territorial government in order to sell lands to better advantage. The Wyandots,
led by their half and quarter bloods, in 1851-59 petitioned Congress to establish a Territory, with no success. A Territorial Delegate, Abelard Guthrie, was chosen in October, 1859. A bill to organize Nebraska Territory passed the House February 2, 1853, but did not reach a vote in the Senate. In order to force action, a Provisional Government was organized by the residents, and William Walker was elected Governor .huh• 23. 1833. Douglas reported a bill in Janu ary• 1854, providing for the erection of a Ter ritory. based on hi. principle of 'squatter sovereignty.' It XN as amended to provide for two Territories (see Kaxsxs-NEnitAsKA Ac•r), passed both lIDu•cs. and was signed by tlw Presi dent May 30th. By this act the boundaries of the 'ferritory of Nebraska were defined as the 40th and 49th of latitude, from the Mis souri to the summit of the 1Zoeky Mountains. In lS;t all the region north of the 43d parallel was constituted part of Dakota Territm.y, a small part from the southwest corner was added to Colorado, and the \\I...tern boundary Was extended to the 1111111 nu•ridian. With the creation of Idaho Ter ritory in 1s63. the State was reduced to its pres ent s except for a slight addition in the northwest in 1552.
The question of Statehood came up with the organization of the Territory. in 1S60 the peo ple voted down a proposal to call a constitu tional convention. Congress passed an enabling at in 1564, hut not until 1560 was a consti tution adopted. The net of admission passed by Congress duly 18th was not signed by the Presi dent. In February, 1867, he again vetoed a similar bill, hut it was passed over the veto. and on March 1st the State was admitted. The his tory of the Territo•y and State has been one of peaceful development. though during the Civil War the Indians were restless, and in August, 156-1. a notable rising occurred.
Politically Nebraska has been 'Republican in national elections, with the exception of the year 1596, when it was carried by the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan. a resident of the State. The following is a list of the Govern ors of the State, with their party affiliations: