some reason to pay their initiation fee, and thus their names did not get on the permanent roll of the Society.

The Secretary read the report of Mr. W. W. Cox in regard to the preparation of the Morton tablet to be placed in the grove of giant trees in California.

"MILLER, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 6, 1904. "To the President and Secretary of the State Historical Society of Nebraska:

"Your committee appointed to secure a bronze tablet in memory of our late honored President, Hon. J. Sterling Morton, and have it placed on one of the great redwood trees at Santa Cruz, California, beg leave to report as follows:

"After much correspondence between the members of the committee, and also with the family of the deceased and a host of his personal friends, your committee contracted with the White Bronze Company of Des Moines, Iowa, for a tablet two feet square and three-eighths inch thick, with the following inscription: on the upper left-hand corner, these words, 'Plant truths'; on the upper right corner, 'Plant trees.'

"In memory of J. Sterling Morton, Father of Arbor Day. Born Apr. 22nd 1832

Died Apr. 27th 1902.

"By order Nebraska Historical Society.'

"Cost of tablet was $30 delivered in Lincoln, Nebraska. "It would have been very agreeable to your committee if it had been possible to send a member to California to make a proper presentation, but the means to bear the expense was not at their command. The Santa Fe R. R. Co. kindly offered transportation from Kansas City to San Francisco and return, but the other expenses of from $40 to $50 were not at our command. We prepared an address to the people of California with the view of having the tablet placed on last Arbor Day, and the tablet was forwarded to the mayor of Santa Cruz, but it arrived too late for that, and then we ordered it held for the Society to take further action.

"Your committee corresponded with the President of the United States, with Secretary Wilson, Governor Mickey, and all the living ex-Governors of our state, with the Governor of California, and other distinguished citizens, and we now hold

very many responses, to be used when the tablet is placed and afterward to become the property of our Society. The letters of President Roosevelt and Secretary Wilson are very pathetic and worthy a place among our treasures.

"Your committee would like to complete arrangements to present the tablet to the people of California and place it upon the grand tree, with fitting ceremonies next Arbor Day, April 22.

"Respectfully submitted,

"W. W. Cox, "Chairman Committee."

This report was ordered received and filed. The President then spoke briefly on the Morton memorial at Nebraska City, stating that about $1,500 was on hand, and the Association hoped to add $5,000 more. After a brief discussion it was concluded that the finances of the Society prevented it from making any contribution at this time, especially as so few members were present.

The names of the following persons were proposed for membership, and on motion the Secretary was instructed to cast the vote in their favor, which was done:

C. E. Persinger, Lincoln.
L. E. Aylsworth, Lincoln.
Mrs. E. E. Blackman, Lin-
coln.

C. S. Allen, Lincoln.
A. R. Talbot, Lincoln.
H. K. Wolfe, Lincoln.
L. Stephens, Lincoln.
R. Pound, Lincoln.
W. O. Jones, Lincoln.
Mrs. H. H. Wheeler, Lincoln.
Rev. F. S. Stein, Lincoln.
Lee Estelle, Omaha.
M. L. Learned, Omaha.

H. P. Leavitt, Omaha.

Joseph H. Millard, Omaha.
Rev. John Broz, Dodge.
R. Dibbles, Beatrice.
Milo Hodgkins, Beatrice.
Mrs. Robert Grey, Schuyler.
C. E. Rice, Blue Springs.
Frank Dunham, Roca.
E. H. Clarke, Ft. Calhoun.
P. Edgar Adams, Paxton.
C. B. Letton, Fairbury.
W. J. Whitmore, Valley.
Mrs. W. J. Whitmore, Valley.
Otis Allis, Council Bluffs,

(Honorary.)

On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the unanimous vote of the Society in favor of the reelection of the present officers. Under this vote the following persons were elected for the year 1904-5:

On motion of Mr. H. T. Clarke, as there was no other business to come before the Society, adjournment was taken. H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING, 1905.

Lincoln, January 10, 1905.

The regular annual meeting of the State Historical Society met in Memorial Hall, University of Nebraska, at 8:15 P.M. and was called to order by President R. W. Furnas. Invocation was then offered by Rev. Mr. Marsh. As there was no business to be transacted the Secretary in a few words introduced the first speaker of the evening, President Furnas, who addressed the Society on the "Past and Future of the Historical Society." Governor Furnas dwelt especially on the history of the "Historical Block" in the city of Lincoln, and pointed out the need of more room in order that the Society may perform its work properly. After the reading of this valuable paper the President called on Dr. Geo. L. Miller, who addressed the Society on the early history of the state and some of the men who laid its foundations. Owing to the lateness of the hour the paper by Judge John H. Amest was read by title, and in the absence of Judge Ames, presented to the Society to be printed. Mr. Sheldon then gave

a series of views, showing early Nebraska men, with illustrations to show the work the Society is doing in the way of gathering photographs of Nebraska history.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

Lincoln, January 11, 1905.

The State Historical Society was called to order for its adjourned meeting at 7:45 P.M. The first order was a business session, and according to the by-laws the Secretary called the roll of the active members of the Society to get corrected addresses, names of deceased members, and information needed to make the record complete.

The report of the Secretary for the meetings of 1904 was then read and approved as read. Mr. Barrett, curator and librarian, then presented his report, and on motion it was placed on file. Mr. W. W. Cox made a brief oral report on the Morton tablet, stating that the same had been placed on' one of California's giant trees, according to instructions. The following names were then proposed for elective membership:

B. Y. High, Bloomfield.
G. Wonder, Blue Springs.
James Crawford, Barnston.
Walter Rice, Blue Springs.
Edmund Huddart, Barnston.
L. H. Leavy, Columbus.
J. J. Hawthorne, Fremont.
August Saltzman, Ft. Cal-
houn.

Henry Schwagger, Omaha.
Mrs. Mary E. Jackett, Gilt-

ner.

C. W. Wright, Genoa.
C. H. Coffin, Genoa.

J. W. Williamson, Genoa.

Henry Hemple, Havelock.
R. Dewitte Stearns, Kimball.
Lute H. North, Monroe.
L. J. Griffith, Nehawka.
A. Darlow, Omaha.
G. F. Wiles, Omaha.
A. B. Todd, Plattsmouth.
Charles L. Saunders, Omaha.
Mrs. Margaret Gallatly, Sut-
ton.

Miss Addie Searles, Platts-
mouth.

E. A. Thomas, Stuart.
W. E. Steele, Yutan.

C. C. Cobb, York.

E. S. Nickerson, Gretna.
Howard Cleveland, Lincoln.
E. H. Whittemore, Adams.
Thomas Wolfe, David City.
Capt. H. E. Palmer, Omaha.
Thomas J. Majors, Peru.
Rev. J. H. Presson, Milford.
D. C. Stratton, Pawnee City.
J. C. Hill, Imperial.
W. V. Allen, Madison.
Rev. A. E. Ricker, Aurora.
M. R. Gilmore, Bethany.
L. P. Bush, Bethany.
H. T. Clarke, Jr., Omaha.

Charles H. Epperson, Fair-
field.

M. H. Whaley, Clarks.
Michael Lee, Omaha.
L. C. Gibson, South Omaha.
N. P. Dodge, Jr., Omaha.
John Ward, Springfield.
James N. Paul, St. Paul.
N. J. Paul, St. Paul.
A. E. Cady, St. Paul.
F. W. Crew, St. Paul.
Geo. A. Ray, St. Paul.
Henry Hansen, Dannebrog.

On motion of H. T. Clarke the Secretary was instructed to cast the vote of the Society in favor of the above list of persons, which was done.

The next order of business was the election of officers. The President, Hon. R. W. Furnas, announced that he believed. that he had had the honors of the presidency long enough, therefore he wished to place in nomination Mr. H. T. Clarke, who had been in the state just fifty years. On motion the Secretary was instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the Society for Mr. Clarke as President for the ensuing year, which was done, and Mr. Clarke was declared duly elected President. Hon. Geo. L. Miller was nominated by C. S. Paine for First Vice-President and elected by unanimous vote cast by the Secretary. On motion of H. W. Caldwell, Prof. G. E. Howard was elected Second Vice-President, Mr. S. L. Geisthardt was nominated by Mrs. H. H. Wheeler as Treasurer, and on motion was unanimously elected, as was also H. W. Caldwell for Secretary.

Hon. R. W. Furnas then read a paper on the life and services of C. H. Gere, the only member of the Society to pass away during the year, as far as known. Mr. W. W. Cox