publications

Harvey’s Description of Nebraska

A description of “The State of Nebraska” by Augustus F. Harvey (1830-1900) was included in theĀ Second Annual Report of the State Board of AgricultureĀ in 1869. Harvey described in detail the soil, rivers and streams, flora and fauna, mineral resources, crops, and climate-everything he believed that a prospective immigrant might want to know before settling in Nebraska. His pamphlet,Ā Nebraska As It Is,Ā was published in 1869.



Harvey, a native of New York state, was a pioneer settler in Nebraska Territory. He came West in 1856 and settled in Nebraska City, where he became involved in real estate. He was active in local civic groups, and in 1857 he and brother William opened a night school that taught mathematics, physics, chemistry, drawing, and civil engineering. Harvey was editor of theĀ Nebraska City NewsĀ from 1861 to 1865, and as a Democrat during the Civil War years, was accused of being a Southern sympathizer. In April of 1866 he became editor of theĀ Nebraska Statesman,Ā which promoted statehood for Nebraska Territory. The paper folded that fall, but was later revived in Lincoln. Harvey’s pen name, “Ajax,” became well known to Nebraska newspaper readers during these years. He also served as a member of both the twelfth territorial legislature and of the second session of the state legislature in 1867.



Harvey characterized Nebraska soil in the 1869 Board of Agriculture report as “a rich black vegetable mould from two to ten feet in depth. . . . It has the singular property of resisting both unusual wet and continual drouth. It does not cake after rain, is easily plowed to any depth required, and has proven itself adapted to the profitable growth of nearly every crop cultivable north of the mouth of the Ohio River.”



Harvey attempted to de-emphasize the state’s frequent winds and lack of timber: “The absence of fuel for the purpose of manufacture is more than compensated for by the excessive dryness of the atmosphere and the consequent rapidity of evaporation. From the 1st of April to the middle of November scarcely a day passes without warm dry wind. During the months of June, July, August and September the winds are almost constant.”



In his discussion of the mineral wealth of Nebraska Harvey conceded, “Much has been said about the opening of coal beds, veins, and seams in thickness from five inches to five feet, in various places in the State; and much money and ink have been expended to get them into notice. In several counties beds have been opened which did not turn out to be beds of coal. They were simply masses of bituminous shales, with enough of vegetable body and sulphur to make a fire if burned with wood. When the fire died out there remained a mass of coarse gritty ashes, filled with red, orange, and buff stones, a further proof that all that is glittering black is not coal.”



Harvey concluded, “There is no question of the vast wealth which will be at some day derived from this region.” He said, “To the emigrant we offer no advice as to the point where he should locate. Every acre of land we have described is good for something; and we do not know of a county in the State where, if he ‘sticks his stake’ right, he will not be abundantly rewarded for the trouble and expense of coming.”





A freight wagon owned by Edward Hawkes in Nebraska City about 1870. Augustus F. Harvey lived there during its heyday as a freighting center. NSHS RG2294-4

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

Other Publications

The Bachelors’ Protective Union of Kearney

When the Bachelors' Protective Union gave a gala reception for two of its newly married, former members and their brides in March of 1890, the social club for young, ...

U.S. Weather Bureau in 1890s Nebraska

The U.S. Weather Bureau was established by an act of Congress on October 1, 1890. It took over the weather service that had been established in the office of the Chief ...

Canning the Way to Victory

During American participation in World War I the U.S. Food Administration, under the direction of Herbert Hoover, launched a massive campaign to persuade Americans to ...

The Shoemaker’s Ashes

"Edward Kuehl, one of the most peculiar characters that ever lived in Omaha, or anywhere else, was found dead in his bed last night in the back room of his place of ...

Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger Foreward

Red Dog, an Oglala Lakota who lived at the Red Cloud Agency, Nebraska, 1876-77 (Nebraska State Historical Society RG2955.ph). Ā  In the summer of 1876, following the ...

Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl F. Zanuck (1902-1979), a native Nebraskan, produced some of Hollywood's most important and controversial films. He helped found 20th Century Fox ...

The Burlington’s Profitable Pork Special

Nebraska railroads were much concerned with developing an adequate economy in the areas they served. The Burlington, for example, had a long history of caring for the ...

Bungalow Filling Stations

After the giant Standard Oil Company was broken into thirty-four separate companies in 1911, the newly independent Standard Oil of Nebraska dominated the state's market ...

The Bull Fight

This is the perfect time of year for a visit to the old fishin' hole. But a group of fisherfolk from Plainview discovered that this bucolic pastime sometimes has ...

Buffalo Soldiers West

African-American soldiers on the western frontier are the focus of an exhibit at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln.Ā Buffalo Soldiers West, on loan from the Colorado ...

Protection for Buffalo

The extermination of the buffalo on the Plains occurred largely between 1870 and 1885. TheĀ Nebraska State JournalĀ of Lincoln on February 1, 1874, editorialized in vain ...

Buffalo Hunting

In late October 1877 young Rolf Johnson and three friends left their homes in Phelps County, Nebraska, for a buffalo hunt in northeastern Colorado. The hunt was not very ...

AboutĀ NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

ļ•Ø
Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

ļ”˜
Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraskaā€™s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraskaā€™s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.