Much is known and written about Gen. John Pershing’s spectacular history at West Point, capturing Poncho Villa, skirmishes with Geronimo and his role as General of the Armies and Commander-in-chief of U.S. Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. But less is remembered about his years in Lincoln.
John Joseph Pershing was born in Meadville, Missouri, on Sept. 13, 1860. His father attempted many occupations, from running a hotel to selling real estate; none really caught on, and the ventures culminated in his bankruptcy in 1873. Pershing began teaching, reportedly while still in high school and later in Laclede and Prairie Mound, Missouri, finally graduating from Kirksville Normal School in 1881. Though considering law school, Pershing realized his best chance at a college education was at West Point, and though academic and political obstacles were formidable, he was admitted in 1882.
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Second-Lt. Pershing graduated in 1886 as president of his class, the same year his parents, sisters Grace and Anna and brother James moved to Lincoln. James became a commercial traveler and lived at 1414 L St., while the family obtained a house at 1538 R St. east of the university, where Grace and Anna were students. In 1889, the family relocated to 1637 R St., and James left the city.
After graduating from West Point, Lt. Pershing was first sent to New Mexico with the 1st Cavalry, then assigned to deal with several Indian uprisings. In 1887, Pershing wrote from the Dakota Territory to the secretary of war explaining his interest in a position with the military science department at the University of Nebraska. His request was complemented by letters from his brother James who, though about to leave Lincoln, had become somewhat successful in politics.
In September 1891, Pershing was appointed professor of military science and tactics as well as commandant of cadets at the University of Nebraska. On his arrival, Pershing found the cadets an undisciplined and ragtag lot, considered an unnecessary joke by the administration. Even the uniforms, whose pants were made of canvas by a local tentmaker, caused Pershing uncharacteristically to laugh out loud. Pershing immediately created the Company A drill team and began reforming the 90 cadets in his own image.
When James Canfield arrived as chancellor in 1891, he saw great potential in Pershing but felt he needed to keep him busier to prevent him from falling into mischief. At Canfield’s suggestion, Pershing volunteered to teach math three hours a day in the Latin School or junior division. Still not certain that Pershing was busy enough, Canfield rekindled Pershing’s early interest in law and encouraged him to enter the university’s fledgling law school. Pershing graduated from law school “in high standing” in 1893 and was admitted to the Nebraska Bar.
In 1894, Company A became the Varsity Rifles and in June of 1895, as Pershing was reassigned to teach at West Point, became the Pershing Rifles. John Dixon, representing the group, asked the incredulous Pershing for a pair of his pants, which was then cut into 1-inch strips and given to each member as a sort of campaign ribbon.
While at the university, Pershing rebuilt the military department into a 350-man program that was award-winning and respected and responsible for organizing the first Military Ball. His students included Alvin Saunders Johnson, Dorothy Canfield and Willa Cather, who considered him a strong disciplinarian but loved by all. Many of his Lincoln friends became prominent figures, including his best friend Charles Dawes, later vice president of the United States.
In July 1905, Pershing married Frances Warren, daughter of Wyoming Sen. Francis E. Warren. The couple later had a reception in Lincoln at the D Street “castle.” In August 1915, Pershing’s wife and daughters Helen, Ann and Margaret died in a fire, which started when hot coals from a fireplace fell onto a waxed floor in their two-story, frame, Victorian home at the Presidio in San Francisco. Five-year-old son Warren was the only survivor, and after living with his grandparents in Wyoming, he was brought to live with Pershing’s sisters in Lincoln.
In 1920, Pershing bought a large two-story, 10-room house at 1748 B St. for his two sisters with the plan of ultimately living in Lincoln in retirement. Pershing kept an “apartment” on the second floor and another room was set aside for Warren who was “reared by sisters, Mrs. D.M. Butler and Miss Anna May Pershing.” Pershing was also promoted for the presidency that year, but because he had little taste for politics and electioneering, Warren Harding won the party’s presidential nomination with Charles Dawes as vice president.
When Pershing died July 15, 1948, his will left funds for a gold medal to be awarded to the top military student at the University of Nebraska. Although while teaching at the University in 1894, “he had doubts to whether he had any real future in the Army,” Pershing attained the highest rank of any living member of the armed forces, which might have been a six-star general but as Congress did not specify such a rank, he never wore more than four stars, though his were of gold rather than silver as designated for the one to five allocated for all other generals. In 1961, the United States issued an 8-cent U.S. stamp in his honor, and in 1963, General of the Armies John J. Pershing was elected to the Nebraska Hall of Fame.