The governor looked quite in place in his elegant home, but as he told
of the early days, it was hard to fancy him occupying a dug-out, and I
could not help asking him how he got about in his little home, for he
is a large man. He laughingly told how he had lived, his dried buffalo
meat hung to the ceiling, and added:
"I spent many a happy day there."
Gov. Silas Garber was elected governor of Nebraska in 1874-6, serving
well and with much honor his two terms. This is an instance of out of a
dugout into the capitol. True nobility and usefulness cannot be hidden
even by the most humble abode.
The home mother earth affords her children of Nebraska is much the same
as the homes the great forests of the east gave to our forefathers, and
have given shelter to many she is now proud to call Nebraska's
children.
When I spoke of returning to the hotel, the governor said:
"We would like to have you remain with us to-night, if you will," and as
Mrs. Garber added her invitation, I readily accepted their kindness,
for it was not given as a mere act of form. I forgot my weariness in
the pleasure of the evening, hearing the governor tell of pioneer days
and doings, and Mrs. G. of California's clime and scenery--her native
state.
The morning was bright and refreshing, and we spent its hours seeing
the surrounding beauties of their home.
"Come, Miss Fulton, see this grove of trees I planted but eight years
ago--fine, large trees they are now; and this clover and timothy; some
think we cannot grow either in Nebraska, but it is a mistake," while
Mrs. G. says:
"There is such a beautiful wild flower blooming along the path, and if
I can find it will pluck it for you," and together we go searching in
the dewy grass for flowers, while the Governor goes for his horse and
phaeton to take me to the depot.
Mrs. G. is a lady of true culture and refinement, yet most unassuming
and social in her manners. Before I left, they gave me a large
photograph of their home. As the Governor drove me around to see more
of Red Cloud before taking me to the depot, he took me by his 14×16
hillside home, remarking as he pointed it out:
"I am sorry it has been so destroyed; it might have yet made a good
home for some one," then by the first frame house built in Red Cloud,
which he erected for a store room, where he traded with the Indians for
their furs. He hauled the lumber for this house from Grand Island, over
sixty miles of trackless prairie, while some went to Beatrice, 100
miles away, for their lumber, and where they then got most of their
groceries.
As we drove through the broad streets, and looked on Red Cloud from
centre to suburb, I did not wonder at the touch of pride with which
Governor Garber pointed out the advance the little spot of land had
made that he paid for in years of service to his country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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