This is a NEGenWeb Project On-Line Library presentation.



PART 6


| Hooker | Howard | Jefferson | Johnson | Kearney |
|
Keith | Keya Paha | Kimball | Knox | Lancaster |
Part 7
Alphabetical Town Index


HOOKER COUNTY


        This county was named in honor of General Joseph Hooker (1814-1879), a noted general of the Civil War. Its boundaries were defined by an act approved March 29, 1889.



HOWARD COUNTY


        Howard county was organized and the boundaries defined by an act approved March 1 1871, and again organized by an act approved March 28, 1871. It was named in honor of General Oliver Otis Howard (1830-1909), a prominent officer during the Civil War. It is sometimes stated that the county was named after Howard Paul, son of an early settler.



JEFFERSON COUNTY


        This county was named after Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States. Its boundaries were defined and the county established by an act of the legislature approved January 26, 1856.



JOHNSON COUNTY


        Johnson county was named in honor of Colonel Richard M. Johnson (1781-1850) of Kentucky, vice-president of the United States (1837-1841). Its boundaries were defined by an act of the legislature approved March 2, 1855. They were reestablished and defined February 10, 1857.



KEARNEY COUNTY


        Kearney county was named for old Fort Kearney. The history of the county dates back to the establishment of the fort in 1848. The fort was named for Major General Stephen Watts Kearny (1794-1848). Gannett states in his work on place names that the county was named for General Philip Kearny. The county was organized and the boundaries defined by an act approved January 10, 1860.



KEITH COUNTY


        Keith county was named in honor of Mr. M. C. Keith of North Platte. Mr. Keith was the grandfather of Keith Neville, recently governor of Nebraska. The boundaries were defined by an act approved February 27, 1873. The county was organized on May 3, 1873. Gannett states in his work on place names that the county was named for John Keith of North Platte, Nebraska.



KEYA PAHA COUNTY.


        Keya Paha is the Dakota Indian name of a hill and the river was named from that hill, ke'-ya, turtle; pa-ha', hill; Ke'-ya, turtle; Pa-ha', hill; wa-kpa', river, Turtle Hill river. The Keya Paha river runs through the northeastern portion of Keya Paha county. It is usually stated that the county was named Keya Paha because of its many, small rounded hills. This county was formed from Brown county by vote, November 4, 1884.



KIMBALL COUNTY


        Kimball county was named in honor of Thomas L. Kimball (1831-1899), vice president and general manager of the Union Pacific railroad. It was organized in 1888. Gannett's treatise on the origin of place names erroneously gives the honor to John P. Kimball. Kimball county was formed from Cheyenne county by vote November 6, 1888.



KNOX COUNTY


        Knox county was named in honor of Major General Henry Knox (1750-1806)2 It was originally named L'Eau Qui Court county but was renamed by the legislature at the request of Representative David Quimby by an act approved February 21, 1873. The county was established and its boundaries defined by an act approved February 10, 1857, and redefined January 13, 1860



LANCASTER COUNTY


        Lancaster county was named after the town and county of Lancaster in Pennsylvania which were named after Lancaster county, England. Its boundaries were defined by an act of the legislature approved March 6, 1855. The county was reestablished and its boundaries redefined by an act approved January 26, 1856.



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