ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
The Diary of Emily Sergeant,
Part II
(This is the second part of Emily Sergeant's diary.
Part I appeared in the June issue of Buffalo Tales.)
Two years after the Luman Sergeant family arrived in Nebraska Emily started writing in her diary again when she and her brother Howard enrolled in the Kearney Public Schools in the fall of 1881. Her diary continues:
Kearney, October 10th, 1881. We came here expecting to commence going to school this morning, but the school is waiting for the contractor to come -- think they may commence tomorrow. Father was taken sick on the way in here. We sent for Dr. Dildine as soon as we got to the Harrold House. Dr. said it was a Congestive chill. It is a good thing school didn't commence today, as pa has needed Howard and I to watch with him.
Tuesday, October 11th. Father is feeling better today, but not able to ride home.
School will commence tomorrow. Have been trying to find Prof. Brown about our school books, but cannot find him at home.
Wednesday, October 12th. We commenced going to school this morning. They have a very nice school building -- is said to be almost as fine as any in Nebraska.
We are boarding with Mr. Willis' people. They are very pleasant. Howard is in the Grammar department. Mr. Bybee is his teacher.
I am in the High School dept. Prof. Brown and Miss Goodrich are my
teachers. My studies are Physiology, Philosophy, Arithmetic, Grammar,
Reading, and Spelling.
We saw Mr. Smith today. He expects to move down next week Wednesday.
October 14th. It has been cold and cloudy the most of this week,
but is pleasanter to-day. I like the school very much. Went to prayer
meeting last night at the Presbyterian Chapel.
Whittier School 1880 |
 23rd and 1st Ave.
|
Saturday, October 15th. Howard had a chance to ride home with Mr. Fahlund. He is coming back Sunday horseback. Wish I could have gone with him.
Hulda Peterson was in town today. She came up to see me a short time. I washed and ironed today.
Saturday, November 6th. My diary has been neglected lately. We have been looking for pa for about 3 weeks. Expect him surely tomorrow. Received a letter from home last night. Was glad to hear from them. Last Sunday Howard and I went to church. Heard a good sermon by Mr. Crissman. In the evening a farewell meeting together with the W.C.T.U. was held in the Presbyterian Chapel. The house was crowded. It was very interesting. Today the Presbyterian Church was dedicated. The other churches of the city did not have services, as their ministers took a part in the ceremony. The services were very impressive -- wish father and mother could have been there.
We are getting along quite well in school, but I do not get much time to do anything but study.
November 20th. Father came in last week Thursday in a snow storm. He stayed all night and started for home Friday, although it was storming. He said they were all well at home. We are now keeping house by ourselves. Went down town week ago yesterday and bought some groceries and dry goods.
Election day we all voted for the Highest Honors in our room. I received the greatest number of votes (23), of the girls. Anson McNeil the greatest number of the boys.
Attended the Presbyterian sociable last Wednesday evening at Mr. Crissman's. They had an oyster supper. Enjoyed myself very much. Heard Mrs. Swanson, the Swedish songstress, sing 3 or 4 pieces.
There are now nearly 50 pupils in the High School, and more are coming. More seats have been sent for.
December 2nd, 1881. I am feeling somewhat homesick tonight; expected a letter from home last night, but did not get one. Hope that any of them are not sick. Pa was in a day or two before Thanksgiving. We sent in some fried cakes, sausages, and a chocolate cake -- Howard's birthday cake. He was 16 years old the 21st Nov. He commenced taking music lessons of Mrs. Smiththen.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith and we took our Thanksgiving dinner together. Pa sent up some fresh oysters.
Kearney, March 2, 1882. How long I have neglected my diary! We commenced the second term of school Tues., Dec. 27th. Howard and I went home on the Friday previous, and Clintie brought us in Tuesday morning. We had such a good visit at home although a short one.
I like the school here very much. Prof. Brown and Miss Goodrich are good teachers. I have earned the "Star Papers" in 3 or 4 of my studies last term. We finished Philosophy and are studying Civil Government in its place this term. The High School celebrated Daniel Webster's birthday Jan.18th. There were quite a number of visitors and the exercises passed off so well that Prof. Brown thought we would have a celebration in honor of Henry W. Longfellow's birthday, which we did, Feb. 27th. There was a large audience and everyone seemed pleased with the evening spent with the Poet. My part was to recite the poem he composed when presented with "The Old Arm Chair", by the children of Cambridge.
Mother came here Feb. 8th on Wed. and stayed until the next week Tues. We enjoyed the visit very much. She did not bring baby Arthur with her. Mrs.Starkey kept house while she was away. The School board have arranged to have a course of free lectures given here. The first one was by Judge Conner of this place, whose subject was Education. He gave a very good discourse. Chancellor Fairfield of Grand Island was the next speaker. His subject was about a journey to Egypt. It was very interesting. Next was Gen. Thayer of Grand Island. He gave a very able discourse upon "Genius -- its use and abuse."
Last Friday night Mr. Collins of the Reform School lectured about Home. It was a short, but good lecture. The next one will be delivered in 2 weeks by Mr. Cowen of Omaha -- I think -- which will finish the course.
We have a Literary Society in the school, which has been instructive as well as entertaining.
Howard went home March 3rd. Pa sent for him as he has to work the farm--which he did not expect to do.
July 21st, 1882. I have just finished a 3 months school in the district north of ours. Had 19 pupils. Mother has been in Sutton keeping house for pa for the last 3 months. It seems so good to have her and the children home.
August 15th, 1882. I came into Kearney this morning to attend the "Normal Institute." It is to last 3 weeks. I am boarding at Mr. Smith's.
August 26th, 1882. The Institute closed yesterday. I enjoyed it very much and received a great benefit. There were about 65 in attendance.
After the school closed we had watermelons and apples that were brought up to the school house by someone as a treat for the teachers.
Sunday, August 27th. Howard did not come in after me yesterday. Expect him in Monday. I received a letter from pa today. He expects to come home next Sat.
I did not go to church this morning.
It is a very warm windy day. The Sells Bros. Show that is to be held here tomorrow arrived here this morning. They have pitched their tents south of the Schoolhouse. I can now hear shouting and a great noise from there.
I guess they do not know much about the Sabbath day.
Thursday Mr.Cunningham invited the teachers down to his office to see his paper printed. We all received a copy. It was the first time I ever saw a printing press.
State Supt. W.W. W. Jones gave a short, good talk to the school Friday morning
I attended a lecture on Woman Suffrage Monday evening by W. Wooster, a young man from India, and quite a smart speaker.
The W.C.T.U. held their monthly meeting at the Pres. Church this evening. Ruby Waters, who is also boarding here attending the Normal, and I went. Miss Lowrey spoke for some time on the subject of temperance. Mrs. Sydenham read a paper. The meeting was interesting.
Monday, August 28th. Howard came this morning in time to see the procession of Sells Bros. Show. I went down to the Prs. church as it passed. The parade was quite good.
We went down in the afternoon. Mr. Smith wheeled Mrs. S. down in her chair. It was quite a curiosity to see the animals.
We started for home at about 4 o'clock, but before we left town a cold windstorm arose, so we went back to Mr. Smith's.
Saturday, September 2nd. We came home Tuesday afternoon.
Epilogue
Emily's account presents a varied and interesting picture of school life punctuated with a poignant touch of homesickness for her family at the 'sodie' south of Kearney. Many children of homesteaders attended school 'in town' and boarded with local residents. This tradition continues today with many ranch families split during the school term.
The diary references to the school building concern a new brick structure started in 1879 and called by today's Kearneyites "Old Whittier." It housed all twelve grades and cost $26,000. Construction was not completed until 1885. The site encompassed over 6 acres of land deeded by the South Platte Land Company to the school board directors on June 6, 1879 for $600. Central Elementary and Whittier occupy the land today. The Kearney school system, School District No. 7, was organized on March 23, 1872, approximately 3 years after the first Buffalo County school near present Shelton. By 1896 there were 120 districts.
Dr. Charles T. Dildine who treated Luman Sergeant for "congestive chill" at the Harrold House came to Kearney in 1874 from the state of New York. The hotel was four blocks south of the railroad on Central Avenue. It was built by Simon and T. J. Murphy in 1872 when this community was called Kearney Junction, and later was known as the Beckett House.
The Presbyterian Chapel was located between 23rd and 24th Streets on Central Avenue. It had been a small saloon and was converted into a chapel and used by the Presbyterian congregation from 1877 until 1881. Their new church dedicated in 1881was on 23rd Street and lst Avenue, the site presently occupied by the General Telephone Company. The Rev. George T. Crissman, D. D. had been pastor since 1879.
Normal Institutes were held regularly in all counties to assist teachers who were not certified and in many instances had not completed high school. The first teachers’ institute in Buffalo County was held in District No. 7 (Kearney) on November 25, 1875.
Two names mentioned by Emily were L. B. Cunningham and Mrs. Sydenham. Mr. Cunningham established Kearney's first newspaper, the Kearney Junction Times and Mrs. Sydenham was the wife of Moses N. Sydenham who had come to Fort Kearny in 1857, remained as a civilian and eventually became postmaster. He is remembered for his involvement in trying to relocate the nation's capitol from Washington, D.C. to the Fort Kearny Military Reservation.
Emily and Howard Sergeant taught school in Nebraska, Emily eventually moving to Los Angeles, California. Howard was also employed as a stonemason according to his grandson, M. Dean Sergeant.
Any further details about places and people mentioned by Emily Sergeant
would be welcomed by the Society, as well as personal writing of both
early and more recent times that will enrich the history of this area.
Sources:
City of Kearney Souvenir Booklet, 1873-1973; Bassett, S.C., History of Buffalo County; Kearney Daily Hub; Where the Buffalo Roamed; Wells, John F., The First Hundred Years, a History of the First United Presbyterian Church.
Proofread 9-3-2005
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