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NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On-Line Library
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATISTICS
COUNTY GOVERNMENT County government in Nebraska began with the proclamation of Acting Governor Cuming in November, 1854, establishing the boundaries of the eight original counties and appointing places and officers of election in the designated precincts. These counties were Burt, Washington, Dodge, Douglas, Cass, Pierce (afterwards Otoe), Forney (afterwards Nemaha) and Richardson.
The first territorial legislature, in a series of acts passed in March, 1855, redefined the boundaries of the original counties, located the county seats in some of them and changed two county names. This legislature also provided for the organization of Gage, Loup, Greene, York, Lancaster, Buffalo, Blackbird, Dakota, Pawnee, Clay, Cuming, McNeal, Saline, Jackson. Johnston and Izard counties. None of these counties retain their original boundaries, and the names of several of them and of other counties subsequently created have disappeared from the map. The original Clay county was divided and merged with Lancaster and Gage in 1864. The original Loup county afterwards became Platte and Colfax counties. Many other counties have been created--the latest being Arthur county in 1913.
The first county officers were appointed by the territorial governor. Tile legislature of 1855 provided for the election of "one probate Judge, one register, one sheriff, one treasurer, and one surveyor for each county," and fixed the amount of their official bonds. The legislature of 1856 provided for the election of county commissioners, justices of the peace, and constables. The election of county superintendents was provided for in an act of March 16, 1855.
The first definite method of organizing new counties was specified in an act of March 14, 1855. It provided that "whenever the citizens of any unorganized county desire to have the same organized, they may make application by petition in writing, signed by a majority of the legal voters of said county, to the judge of probate of the county to which such unorganized county is attached, whereupon, the said judge of probate shall order an election for county officers in such unorganized county. The probate judge was to appoint three disinterested commissioners from his county to locate the seat of government in the new county. Some of the early acts describing county boundaries included the names of the commissioners of location for the county seat.
The passage of a legislative act establishing a county did not necessarily signify that the county had been or would be established. The act creating Lancaster county was approved March 6, 1855, while the first steps to perfect a county organization were not taken until the fall of 1859--over four years later. Meanwhile, the legislature had changed the original boundaries of the county so that it covered comparatively little of its original territory. This is typical of the early period of county government in Nebraska.
The functions of pioneer county government were simple. The heaviest item of taxation was that levied for roads. It consisted of a poll tax and a land tax of three dollars on a quarter section. These taxes could be paid in labor or money at the option of the taxpayer. Both territorial and county roads were being made, and the work of surveying, grading and bridging took much of the time of the early settlers. The tendency was to put all public offices on the elective basis, so that by 1864 all County and precinct officers were elected. These included practically the full complement of officers that obtains today, except that, for a time, the county clerk was also register of deeds, and that from 1858 to 1867 there was no provision for the office of county superintendent.
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In 1877 the legislature provided for the township form of county government at the option of the county. At present twenty-seven out of the ninety three counties have adopted the township form of government. The governing boards of these counties consist of supervisors elected from seven supervisor districts, or, at the option of the electors of the county expressed by ballot, supervisors elected from each of the townships. At present but one county (York) has adopted the latter system. The law provides for changes from one form to the other of county governmentIn all counties 125,000 or less in population under commissioner government three commissioners resident in their respective districts but elected by the entire county constitute the county board. Such counties, however, under the provisions of chapter 69, laws of 1919, have the right to increase the number of districts from three to five by popular vote. The other elective county officers are clerk, treasurer, surveyor, county superintendent, county judge and sheriff; in counties having more than two thousand inhabitants, a county attorney; in counties having sixteen thousand or more inhabitants a register of deeds and a county assessor unless the county by legal process elects to abolish the office. Terms of office are four years. In 1915 the state was divided into 94 justice districts. Each justice appoints one constable. Road overseers are elected for road districts. The terms of these officers are two years. Township officers include town clerk, town treasurer, justices of the peace and constables. Road overseers are appointed by township boards. Election officers are appointed by the clerks of the district courts.
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ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS, 1921-1922--Continued.
County County Seat County Clerk Clerk District Court Register of Deeds Adams
Hastings
J. A. Cates (R)
Lucia Dillenbach (R)
Lucy W. Button (R)
Antelope
Neligh
Perry H. Peterson (R)
T. H. Recroft (R)
Arthur
Arthur
D. G. Williams
D. G. Williams
D. G. Williams
Banner
Harrisburg
R. D. Wilson
R. D. Wilson
R. D. Wilson
Blaine
Brewster
D. C. Norris (R)
D. C. Norris (R)
D. C. Norris (R)
Boone
Albion
J. H. McClintick (R)
S. B. Morehead (R)
Box Butte
Alliance
Avis M. Joder (R)
W. C. Mounts (R)
Boyd
Butte
Ed Briggs (R)
S. A. Richardson (R)
Brown
Ainsworth
John K. Cassell (R)
John K. Cassell (R)
John K. Cassell (R)
Buffalo
Kearney
G. W. Haase (D)
Chas. W. Hill (R)
T. J. Scott (D)
Burt
Tekamah
F. O. Lundstrorn (R)
W. H. Van Cleve (R)
Butler
David City
M. J. Bouse (D)
Daisy D. Williams (R)
M. J. Bouse (D)
Cass
Plattsmouth
Geo. R. Sayles (R)
James Robertson (R)
E. D. Shannon (R)
Cedar
Hartington
H. C. Beaty (R)
D. F. Crouch (R)
Chase
Imperial
A. Cunningham (R)
A. Cunningham (R)
Cherry
Valentine
A. B. Green
Isaac Burbank
Cheyenne
Sidney
F. N. Slawson (D)
1. B. Wasson (R)
Clay
Clay Center
Ernest Frisch (D)
S. W. Moger (R)
Colfax
Schuyler
Tess L. Woods (R)
F. R. Moore (R)
Cuming
West Point
Rudolph Brazda (D)
Carl R. Stieren (D)
Custer
Broken Bow
H. R. Knapp (R)
H. F. Hansen (R)
George E. Porter (R)
Dakota
Dakota City
J. S. Bacon
J. S. Bacon
Dawes
Chadron
Roll G. Smith (D)
L. J. F. Iaeger (D)
Dawson
Lexington
Deuel
Chappell
H. D. Betts (R)
Dixon
Ponca
A. N. Porter
J. M. Hurley
A. N. Porter
Dodge
Fremont
W. E. Barz (D)
Peter T. Mitterling (R)
Ernest Hahn (R)
Douglas .
Omaha
Frank Dewey (R)
Robert Smith (R)
Harry Pearce (R)
Dundy
Benkelman
Frank Woodward (R)
Fillmore
Geneva
W. H. Sisler (D)
Frank H. Hitch (R)
Franklin
Bloomington
E. S. Murray (R)
H. B. Long (R)
Frontier
Stockville
A. G. Williams
Fern Elliott
A. G. Williams
Furnas
Beaver City
Madge Disbrow (R)
Helen Whitney (R)
Gage
Beatrice
G. L. Mumford (R)
F. E. Lenhart (R)
J. A. Weaver (R)
Garden
Oshkosh
G. E. Melvin
G. E. Melvin
G. R. Melvin
Garfield
Burwell
Ed M. Tunnicliff (D)
Ed M. Tunnicliff (D)
Ed M. Tunnicliff (D)
Gosper
Elwood
J. M. Miles (R)
J. M. Miles (R)
J. M. Miles (R)
Grant
Hyannis
S. S. Lichty (R)
Greeley
Greeley Center
P. R. Kerrigan (D)
F. M. Toohey (D)
Hall
Grand Island
J. E. Lyle (R)
W. H. Ravert (D)
Richard Buenz (D)
Hamilton
Aurora
H. V. Nelson (R)
J. W. Weedin (D)
Harlan
Alma
Carrie Stevens (R)
H. Jay Egelston (R)
Carrie Stevens (R)
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ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS, 1921-1922--Continued.
County County Seat County Clerk Clerk District Court Register of Deeds Hayes
Hayes Center
E. E. Garrett (R)
E. E. Garrett (R)
E. E. Garrett (R)
Hitchcock
Trenton
Bruce Vastine (D)
Bruce Vastine (D)
Holt
O'Neill
E. F. Porter (R)
Ira H. Moss (R)
Hooker
Mullen
T. L. McCully (R)
T. L. McCully (R)
Howard
St. Paul
Clara Sazama (D)
C. W. McCracken (R)
Jefferson
Fairbury
C. O. Marthis (R).
Gladys Hughes (D)
Irene M. King (D)
Johnson
Tecumseh
Robt. J. Nibbe (R)
Jessie Dew (R)
Keaney
Minden
I. J. Thomsen (R)
G. E. Hammond (D)
Keith
Ogallala
Lulu Rosengrant (R)
Keya Paha
Springview
C. M. White (R)
C. M. White (R)
C. M. White (R)
Kimball
Kimball
Mrs. D. T. Heynen (R)
Knox
Center
Geo. W. Draper (R)
W. F. Wakelee (R
Charles Stevenson (D)
Lancaster
Lincoln
W. L. Minor
J. S. Baer
T. E. Wheeler
Lincoln
North Platte
A. S. Allen (R)
Geo. E. Prosser (R)
Logan
Gandy
John Armour (R)
John Armour (R)
John Armour (R)
Loup
Taylor
D. D. Cheesman (D)
D. D. Cheesman (D)
D. D. Cheesman (D)
McPherson
Tryon
Chas. A. Daly (R)
Chas. A. Daly (R)
Chas. A. Daly (R)
Madison
Madison
Otto W. Wolf
W. H. Field
Ada, B. Hodson
Merrick
Central City
W. L. Stanley
Clara F. Jeffreys
Morrill
Bridgeport
W. C. Clark (R)
Z. H. Jones (D)
W. C. Clark (R)
Nance
Fullerton
J. T. Gilmore (R)
Howard Downing
Nemaha
Auburn
C. R. Hacker (R)
Sam M. Bixby (R)
Nuckolls
Nelson
W. C. Hall (R)
M. F. Long, (R)
W. C. Hall (R)
Otoe
Nebraska City .
Oliver Stevenson (D)
John C. Miller (D)
John J. Teten (D)
Pawnee
Pawnee City
Harry W. Scott (R)
Fay Brooks (R)
Harry W. Scott (R)
Perkins
Grant
V. H. Griffith (R)
Phelps
Holdrege
A. F. Swanberg (R)
A. L. Peterson (D)
Pierce
Pierce
F. H. Mohrman (R)
O. B. Miller (R)
Platte
Columbus
Geo. H. Bender (D)
Ethel Gossard (D)
Jerry Carrig (D)
Polk
Osceola
John Sjoblom
Grace Pheasant
Red Willow
McCook
Barney Hofer (D)
Elmer Kay (R)
Richardson
Falls City
D. W. Daggett (R)
Florence Cleaver (R)
N. B. Judd (D)
Rock
Bassett
Chester Stockwell (R)
Chester Stockwell (R)
Chester Stockwell (R)
Saline
Wilber
J. M. Korbel (D)
S. A. Shestak (D)
Sidney L. Broz (D)
Sarpy
Papillion
Tom Dooley (D)
Eliza M. Wilson (R)
Tom Dooley (D)
Saunders
Wahoo
Joseph B. Hines (R)
Lottie O. Klotz (R)
S. D. Mauck (R)
Scott's Bluff
Gering
J. W. Burrows (R)
M. H. McHenry (R)
R. G. Neeley (R)
Seward
Seward
W. H. Franklin (R)
Edwin F. Trute (R)
U. H. Franklin (R)
Sheridan
Rushville
Maud E. Gillispee (D)
Amy I. Stewart (R)
Sherman
Loup City
Ronald F. Rowe
F. M. Henry (R)
Sioux
Harrison
E. R. Cherry (R)
E. R. Cherry (R)
E. R. Cherry (R)
Stanton
Stanton
Wm. F. Fullner (D)
Walter Sonnenschein (R)
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ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS, 1921-1922--Continued.
County County seat County Clerk Clerk District Court Register of Deeds Thayer
Hebron
B. A. Young (R)
H. L. Boyes (R)
B. A. Young (R)
Thomas
Thedford
Carl W. Bivens (R)
Carl W. Bivens (R)
Carl W. Bivens (R)
Thurston
Pender
J. F. Conway
Ed Farley
Valley
Ord
J. T. Knezacek
Maud Jackman
J. T. Knezacek
Washington
Blair
Mary C. Debel (D)
E. C. Jackson (R)
Wayne
Wayne
Chas. W. Reynolds (D)
L. W. Ellis (R)
Chas. W. Reynolds (D)
Webster
Red Cloud
B. F. Perry (D)
Clara McMillan (R)
Wheeler
Bartlett
Henry Pletcher (R)
Henry Pletcher (R)
York
York
John Muir (R)
R. O. Allen (R)
E. C. Knight (R)
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