Friday, January 30, 2004
FONTENELLE OR FONTANELLE
To conclude the Andersen family writing I would like to offer a little information about Fontenelle. You will see the name spelled Fontenelle as well as Fontanelle. The historians do not agree on the spelling so you will find it both ways.
In 1854, the “Nebraska Colonization Company” was formed in Quincy, Illinois. Soon after, wagons of settlers came across Iowa and through Omaha till they reached the Elcorn River. They decided to locate on the river banks. Their hope being the river would be navigable and thriving business would ensue. They met with Logan Fontenelle, the Omaha Indian chief, and each family paid him $10.00 to protect their interests in the site until they returned with the rest of their company. An effort was made to get the territorial capital located at Fontenelle but this effort failed. They were however granted a charter to build a college. Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches had been built by 1860. The first stock of goods came to the new settlement in 1855 by Wm. Davis who also kept the first hotel. It was a double log house called the “Fontenelle House”. The manufacture of brick was started in the summer of 1855 as well as the first sawmill.
A college was constructed by Congregationalists and named the Nebraska University. The first building was built of cottonwood logs but burned in 1865. Then a two-story building 30 ft. by 50 ft. was put up to take it’s place. The college struggled and was moved to Crete, NE. Later it became Doane College.
Without a railroad Fontenelle never flourished into the dreams of the settlers, but roots go deep into the fourth and fifth generations who call it “home.” Familiar sounds come from children playing, a rooster crowing, a calf calling it’s mother, or a hymn being played on the carillon bell tower of the church.
No one can put a monetary value on the sights of autumn leaves of the oak trees, or the comfortable feeling of waving to a neighbor as he bicycles down the road. Horseback riders would never pay for a trial ride more scenic than the Fontanelle Oaks area. Let the rest of the world progress…..the residents like Fontanelle the way it is.
(The above information was taken in part from the Washington County Nebraska History book.)
I am humbled when I am shown the effort made by early settlers and our own family to literally carve out a home, community, State and nation. I am convinced we take it too much for granted. I’m wondering if they would feel it was worth it if they could see where their foundation led.
I’m thinking they would. They came to this country from all over Europe and the East. They came because they had the heart and strength and a vision for greatness. We are here because of their fortitude and because they gave us birth. Our beginnings were like their beginnings. We came from the land and they came FOR the land. Somehow we all took root and made America what it is. May it always be……………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
In 1854, the “Nebraska Colonization Company” was formed in Quincy, Illinois. Soon after, wagons of settlers came across Iowa and through Omaha till they reached the Elcorn River. They decided to locate on the river banks. Their hope being the river would be navigable and thriving business would ensue. They met with Logan Fontenelle, the Omaha Indian chief, and each family paid him $10.00 to protect their interests in the site until they returned with the rest of their company. An effort was made to get the territorial capital located at Fontenelle but this effort failed. They were however granted a charter to build a college. Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches had been built by 1860. The first stock of goods came to the new settlement in 1855 by Wm. Davis who also kept the first hotel. It was a double log house called the “Fontenelle House”. The manufacture of brick was started in the summer of 1855 as well as the first sawmill.
A college was constructed by Congregationalists and named the Nebraska University. The first building was built of cottonwood logs but burned in 1865. Then a two-story building 30 ft. by 50 ft. was put up to take it’s place. The college struggled and was moved to Crete, NE. Later it became Doane College.
Without a railroad Fontenelle never flourished into the dreams of the settlers, but roots go deep into the fourth and fifth generations who call it “home.” Familiar sounds come from children playing, a rooster crowing, a calf calling it’s mother, or a hymn being played on the carillon bell tower of the church.
No one can put a monetary value on the sights of autumn leaves of the oak trees, or the comfortable feeling of waving to a neighbor as he bicycles down the road. Horseback riders would never pay for a trial ride more scenic than the Fontanelle Oaks area. Let the rest of the world progress…..the residents like Fontanelle the way it is.
(The above information was taken in part from the Washington County Nebraska History book.)
I am humbled when I am shown the effort made by early settlers and our own family to literally carve out a home, community, State and nation. I am convinced we take it too much for granted. I’m wondering if they would feel it was worth it if they could see where their foundation led.
I’m thinking they would. They came to this country from all over Europe and the East. They came because they had the heart and strength and a vision for greatness. We are here because of their fortitude and because they gave us birth. Our beginnings were like their beginnings. We came from the land and they came FOR the land. Somehow we all took root and made America what it is. May it always be……………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
