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Past & Present of Platte County, Nebraska - Volume I


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CHAPTER IV

ORGANIZATION OF PLATTE COUNTY

Platte County was created and separated from Dodge County in 1855, and was twenty-four miles square, including sections 17, 18, 19 and 20 north, of ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4 east, of the fourth principal meridian. Under a law passed and approved January 26, 1856, the boundaries of Platte County were defined as follows:

  From the southeast corner of town 17, range 5 east, north to the northeast corner of town 20, range 1, south to the southwest corner of town 17, range 1, thence east to place of beginning. In 1858 Platte was made to include all of Monroe County on the west not included in the Pawnee Reservation.

  Monroe County had been created in August, 1857, and officers elected, but during the winter of 1858-9, a petition extensively signed by citizens of Monroe and Platte counties, induced the Legislature to consolidate them. This led the board of commissioners to divide the county into three new districts.

  Platte County is now bounded by the following counties: On the north by Madison and Stanton; east by Colfax; south by Nance, Polk and Butler; west by Boone and Nance. Two-thirds of the county -- its northern part -- is thirty miles wide; the lower third is twenty-four miles wide, barring a small, irregular strip bordered by the Platte River on the south and forming part of Butler Township. The Platte River is really the southern boundary of the county until it reaches the Pawnee Reservation in Nance County, where the latter subdivision cuts into Platte County two townships on the southwest and one township on the south, making that part of the county irregular in its outlines. There are seventeen townships, most of which are six miles square. In the southern portion the outlines of the townships have been shaped to meet the demands of the locality arising from the meanderings of the Loup and Platte rivers.

  This county obtains its name from the great river which washes twenty miles of its southern boundary, the valley of which includes

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fully one-sixth of the fertile surface. Its natural features do not differ materially from those of the other sections of country to the east, situated in the Garden Valley of the Platte. The valley land is principally grown to grass and is unexcelled as a stock-raising country. A few miles southeast of Columbus the beautiful and broad Valley of the Loup joins the Platte, forming a splendid and picturesque stretch of country. Here it is that the two rivers come together, making a noble expanse of valley land. Beyond this is a belt of low undulating table land, and the winding valley of Shell Creek. The general direction of the Loup River is from east to west through the southern portion of the county, Shell Creek being a branch which flows northwest and southeast and waters the sections throughout the central sections thereof. Lookingglass Creek favors the western and central parts, and Union, the northeastern.

  The soil favorable to agriculture consists of a deep vegetable mold, the valley land being largely mixed with sand. In localities sandstone is found in quite respectable quantities.

GOVERNMENT

  When Platte County was organized it was placed under a form of government, of which a board of commissioners, composed of three members, was the leading and guiding force. This body of men was clothed with large and varied powers and its jurisdiction extended throughout the county. Laws, in the form of resolutions, were enacted by the board, which governed its official actions and many of those of the settlers, especially the methods to be followed in their transactions with the county, such as taxation and the amounts to be levied; the poll tax; laying out and building of roads; erecting bridges; issuing licenses for the establishing and maintenance of ferries; also for the sale of liquor. To the board fell the duty of creating voting precincts, townships and the incorporation of towns, villages and cities within its jurisdiction. Another very important part of the duties has always been the consideration of ways and means of securing funds to meet all obligations incurred. To the credit of the county and its long list of officials this responsibility has been carried through successive administrations with tact, splendid business acumen and honesty of purpose. As a result, Platte County has a well filled treasure box and is steadily growing in wealth and prosperity, the evidence of which lies in the many wide-awake, enterprising trading points within her borders; the thousands of fertile, highly cultivated

 

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and improved farms; splendid schoolhouses and church edifices; banking institutions in modern, expensive homes, whose vaults are laden with money and high-priced securities All this and more has been made possible by the men and women, who came here in the early days from their comfortable eastern homes, and braving many uncertainties of an unorganized country, started in with practically nothing, but amply sustained by strong hands and hearts, put their hands to what they found to do and performed their duties heartily and valiantly. The men chosen to represent their interests in the county government were well chosen and as a result Platte County now is one of the foremost subdivisions of the great State of Nebraska.

  As the years went by dissatisfaction arose relative to the system under which the county was governed. So that, in 1878 the question was submitted as to whether or not a change should be made and a township organization adopted. When the result of the election was determined but few votes were found polled for the new plan and the matter rested a few years. But the board of commissioners again was petitioned to call an election for the purpose of securing an expression from the county electorate upon the much discussed proposition of electing a board of supervisors, one from each township and also a member to represent the Corporation of Columbus. This time those in favor of the innovation were largely in the majority and carried the day. This system remained in operation for several years, when it was concluded that the board was too large, unwieldy and expensive. The people thereupon took advantage of a law which permitted the erection of supervisor districts, to be represented by one member, and by their votes changed the system of county government to the district plan. Thereupon, the retiring board under the old system created seven supervisor districts, of which the Corporation and Township of Columbus were named the sixth and seventh. Under that arrangement the electors of the county have for the past several years chosen their representatives on the county board.

LIST OF COUNTY OFFICIALS FROM 1858 TO 1914

  It may fairly be presumed that when Platte County was organized, a full list of officials was elected. No notation, however, is found in the minute book of the first county clerk (clerk of the board of county commissioners) of county officials and it logically follows that the record is silent on the subject of such officers qualifying for the various positions then provided for the county government. This

 

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is the situation that has been presented to the writer, and in the absence of any record on the subject he is compelled, in making up a list of the names of officials of Platte County, to commence with the year 1858 and omit the year 1857, giving only for the year of the county's organization the names of the men who served the local government as they appear of record.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

1857--Thomas Sarvis, George Spaulding, Gustavus Becher.
1858--Thomas Sarvis, George Spaulding, Gustavus Becher
1859--Gustavus Becher, William Davis, George Spaulding
1860--William Davis, George Spaulding, G. W. Stevens.
1862--C. A. Speice, William Davis, John Kelly.
1864--C. A. Speice, John Kelly, Nelson Toncray.
1865--C. A. Speice, John Kelly, Nelson Toncray.
1866--John Kelly, Nelson Toncray, F. G. Becher.
1867 John Kelly, Nelson Toncray, F. G. Becher; William Davis chosen at special election to fill vacancy.
1868--F. G. Becher, William Davis, S. C. Smith.
1869--F. G. Becher, S. C. Smith, Fred Stevens.
1870--G. C. Barnum, S. C. Smith, G. W. Galley.
1871--Guy C. Barnum, G. W. Galley, J. W. Early.
1872--George W. Galley, John W. Early, G. C. Barnum.
1872-3--J. W. Early, G. C. Barnum, Abner Turner.
1873-4--Abner Turner, Michael Maher, G. C. Barnum.
1874-5--Guy C. Barnum, F. G. Becher, Jacob Guter.
1875--John Hammond, Michael Maher, Albert Rose.
1876--Michael Maher, John Hammond, Albert Rose.
1876-7--Michael Maher, R. H. Henry, Albert Rose.
1877--Albert Rose, R. H. Henry, William Bloedorn.
1878--R. H. Henry, William Bloedorn, John Walker.
1879--William Bloedorn, John Walker, John Wise.
1880--John Walker, John Wise, Michael Maher.
1881 John Wise, Michael Maher, Joseph Rivet.
1882--Michael Maher, Joseph Rivet, H. J. Hudson.
1883--Joseph Rivet, H. J. Hudson, Robert Moran.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

1884--Columbus Township, Jacob Ernst; Butler, John Ernst; Bismark, J. C. Swartsley; Monroe, R. E. Wiley; Shell Creek, J. J.

 

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Burke; Walker, Nils Olson; Humphrey, Joseph Braun; Grand Prairie, Samuel W. Wilson; Lost Creek, R. L. Rossiter; Granville, Obe Terwilliger; Creston, N. Olson; Burrows, Fred Shure; Woodville, William J. Irwin; St. Bernard, Jacob Weidner; Sherman, William Newman; Loup, Jacob Tschudin; Joliet, Martin Maher; Columbus Corporation, J. E. North.

  1885--Columbus Corporation, George E. Willard; Columbus Township, A. W. Clark; Butler, W. H. Hess; Bismark, J. C. Swartsley; Monroe, George S. Trueman; Shell Creek, J. J. Burke; Walker, Nils Olson; Humphrey, A. D. Hinman; Grand Prairie, D. S. Bruen; Lost Creek, P. F. Doody; Granville, H. Terwilliger; Creston, N. Olson; Burrows, J. F. Shure; Woodville, James Kernan; St. Bernard, Jacob Weidner; Sherman, William Newman; Loup, Jacob Tschudin; Joliet, Martin Maher.

  1886--Columbus Corporation, Henry J. Hudson; Columbus Township, Jacob Lewis; Butler, W. H. Hess; Bismark, J. C. Swartsley; Monroe, George S. Terwilliger; Shell Creek, Steve Waggoner; Walker, Nils Olson; Humphrey, C. B. Campbell; Grand Prairie, Hubert Braun; Lost Creek, R. Pinson; Granville, J. Mack; Creston, N. Olson; Burrows, James Burrows; Woodville, A. G. Rolf; St. Bernard, James Mieseager; Sherman, William Newman; Loup, D. E. Campbell; Joliet, Martin Maher.

  1887--Columbus Corporation, R. H. Henry; Columbus Township, A. W. Clark; Butler, W. B. Williams; Bismark, J. C. Swartsley; Monroe, John Peterson; Shell Creek, John Brunken; Walker, Clark Blecher; Humphrey, C. B. Campbell; Grand Prairie, D. L. Braun; Lost Creek, George N. Hopkins; Granville, R. Bender, Jr.; Creston, Nils Olson; Burrows, James Burrows; Woodville, W. J. Irwin; St. Bernard, C. E. Feels; Sherman, William Newman; Loup, F. Gerber; Joliet, H. S. Elliott.

  1888--Columbus, R. H. Henry; Columbus Township, A. W. Clark; Butler, Ed Kenscher; Bismark, Henry Rickert; Monroe, W. O. Pugsley; Shell Creek, J. F. Dineen; Walker, C. H. Blecher; Humphrey, C. B. Campbell; Grand Prairie, D. L. Bruen; Lost Creek, George N. Hopkins; Granville, F. Bering; Creston, S. J. Wheeler; Burrows, James Burrows; Woodville, William J. Irwin; St. Bernard, Joseph Ottis; Sherman, J. H. Wurdeman; Loup, Jacob Tschudin; Joliet, J. W. Clark.

  1889--Columbus, Jonas Welch; Columbus Township, W. J. Newman; Bismark, Henry Rickert; Sherman, G. Asche; Creston, O. S. Moran; Shell Creek, John Cramer; Grand Prairie, D. L. Bruen;

 

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Humphrey,_____; Butler, John Engel; Loup, D. E. Campbell; Lost Creek, P. F. Doody; Burrows, James Burrows; Granville, F. Bering; Monroe, _____; Joliet, H. J. Johnston; St. Bernard, _____; Woodville, W. J. Irwin; Walker, Nils Olson.

  1890--Columbus, Israel Gluck; Columbus Township, John C. Byrnes; Bismark, John C. Swartsley; Sherman, G. Asche; Creston, A. C. Anderson; Shell Creek, J. F. Dineen; Grand Prairie, J. S. Freeman; Humphrey, C. D. Murphy; Butler, Edward Kenscher; Loup, Albert Huerner; Lost Creek, D. D. Lynch; Burrows, James Burrows; Granville, F. D. Klebba; Monroe, William Pollard; Joliet, W. E. DeMoney; St. Bernard, Joseph Ottis; Woodville, W. J. Irwin; Walker, J. P. Johnston.

  1891--Columbus, James E. North; Bismark, Henry Rickert: Sherman, Theodore Wenk; Creston, Nils Olson; Grand Prairie, Dirk Becher; Loup, Fred A. Huerner; Lost Creek, Robert Price; Granville, Ferdinand Bering; Joliet, H. S. Elliott; Walker, Christ Johnson; Columbus Township, John C. Byrnes; Shell Creek, J. F. Dineen; Humphrey, C. D. Murphy; Butler, Edward Kenscher; Burrows, James Burrows; Monroe, William Pollard; St. Bernard, Joseph Ottis; Woodville, W. J. Irwin.

  1892--Columbus, J. E. North; Columbus Township, R. Y. Lisco; Sherman, Gerhard Asche; Shell Creek, Steve Waggoner; Humphrey, Chris Shoemaker; Butler, Jacob Gerber; Burrows, George Thomazin; Monroe, William M. Pollard; St. Bernard, Thomas F. Howard; Woodville, James Kiernan; Bismark, Henry Rickert; Creston, Nils Olson; Grand Prairie, Dirk Becher; Loup, Fred E. Huerner; Lost Creek, Robert Price; Granville, Ferdinand Bering; Joliet, H. S. Elliott; Walker, Christ Johnson.

  1893--Columbus, Charles A. Speice; Columbus Township, R. Y. Lisco; Bismark, William Schreiber; Creston, Nils Olson; Grand Prairie, D. A. Becher; Humphrey, D. Driscoll; Butler, Jacob Gerber; Loup, Jacob Tschudin; Lost Creek, Thomas P. Mylet; Granville, Ferdinand Bering; Joliet, H. S. Elliott; St. Bernard, James Weidner, Jr.; Walker, John P. Johnston; Burrows, George Thomazin; Sherman, Gerhard Asche; Shell Creek, Steve Waggoner; Monroe, William M. Pollard; Woodville, James Kiernan.

  1894--Columbus, Charles A. Speice; Columbus Township, R. Y. Lisco; Sherman, G. Asche; Shell Creek, John Brunken; Humphrey C. O. Moore; Butler, E. J. Ernst; Burrows, George Thomazin; Granville, Peter Bender, Jr.; Monroe, William Pard; St. Bernard, Peter Bettinger; Woodville, James Kiernan; Bismark, William

 

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Schreiber; Creston, Nils Olson; Grand Prairie, D. A. Becher; Loup, Jacob Tschudin; Lost Creek, Thomas P. Mylet; Joliet, H. S. Elliott; . Walker, John P. Johnston.

CHANGE TO SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS

  In pursuance of an act of the Legislature, approved on the 11th of April, 1895, entitled "An act to provide for township organization t o divide counties under township organization into supervisor districts; to define the rights, powers and liabilities of the towns, the duties and compensation of the officers therein, and to provide for the election of town officers; and for the election of supervisors and the term of office of the supervisor to be elected and chosen in their supervisor districts into which the county is to be divided when governed by township organization; and to repeal Sections 1 to 62, inclusive, Article 4, Chapter 18, of the Compiled Statutes of Nebraska for 1893," a special session of the board was called, at the request of a certain number of the members, which was held October 10, 1895, at 2 P. M. for the purpose of dividing the county into supervisor districts and choosing the members for said districts. Further, a committee of five was selected for members by the board by ballot, whose duty it was to submit to the board a plan for dividing the county into supervisor districts. The members of the committee chosen by ballot were: Supervisors Becher, Olson, Bender, Ernst and Lisco. The result of the committee's deliberation was to divide the county into seven supervisor districts, and the motion of Supervisor Kiernan at the meeting of October 11, 1895, that the supervisors embraced within the several supervisor districts cast lots among themselves to decide which one of their number should be supervisor of each respective district, carried. In compliance with the plan adopted, the supervisors cast lots for those of their number they desired to represent the townships within their respective districts, with the following result:

D. A. Becher............................

District No. 1

Charles 0. Moore.......................

District No. 2

Peter Bettinger .........................

District No. 3

James Kiernan ..........................

District No. 4

William Schreiber ......................

District No. 5

Charles A. Speice and E. J. Ernst ....

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

This new board met November 12, 1895, placed D. A. Becher in
Vol. I--5 

 

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the chair, and continued to transact the business of the county until part of its members retired in favor of those who were elected in November, 1896:

D. A. Becher....................

District No. 1

Charles O. Moore...............

District No. 2

Nils Olson .......................

District No. 3

James Kiernan ..................

District No. 4

Charles J. Carrig................

District No. 5

John Wiggins and E. J. Ernst..

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1897 - D. A. Becher............

District No. 1

Peter Bender .....................

District No. 2

Nils Olson .......................

District No. 3

James Kiernan ..................

District No. 4

Charles J. Carrig................

District No. 5

John Wiggins and R. Y. Lisco.

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1898 - John Goetz .............

District No. 1

Peter Bender ....................

District No. 2

Nils Olson ......................

District No. 3

James Kiernan .................

District No. 4

C. J. Carrig.....................

District No. 5

R. Y. Lisco and Louis Held....

Districts Nos.6 and 7

1899 - John Goetz .............

District No. 1

Daniel Driscoll ..................

District No. 2

Nils Olson .......................

District No. 3

W. J. Welch.....................

District No. 4

C. J. Carrig......................

District No. 5

R. Y. Lisco and Louis Held....

Districts Nos.6 and 7

1900 - John Goetz ..............

District No. 1

Daniel Driscoll ..................

District No. 2

Math Diedrich ...................

District No. 3

W. J. Welch.....................

District No. 4

C. J. Carrig......................

District No. 5

R. Y. Lisco and Louis Held....

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1901 - John Goetz ..............

District No. 1

Peter Bender, Jr................

District No. 2

Math Diedrich ..................

District No. 3

Frank Kiernan ..................

District No. 4

C. J. Carrig......................

District No. 5

Louis Held and E. J. Ernst.....

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1902 - John Goetz ...............

District No. 1

 

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Peter Bender, Jr...........................

District No. 2

Math Diedrich .............................

District No. 3

Frank Kiernan ............................

District No. 4

Charles J. Carrig..........................

District No. 5

Louis Held and E. J. Ernst...............

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1903 - John Goetz ........................

District No. 1

Peter Bender, Jr...........................

District No. 2

Math Diedrich ............................

District No. 3

Frank Kiernan ............................

District No. 4

Charles J. Carrig..........................

District No. 5

Louis Held and E. J. Ernst...............

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1904 - John Goetz .......................

District No. 1

Peter Bender, Jr..........................

District No. 2

John Swanson ............................

District No. 3

Frank Kiernan ............................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother..............................

District No. 5

Louis Held and E. J. Ernst...............

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1905 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

John F. Shure..............................

District No. 2

John Swanson .............................

District No. 3

A. E. Priest.................................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Louis Held and William J. Newman....

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1906 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure..................................

District No. 2

Henry Schaecher ..........................

District No. 3

A. E. Priest.................................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother..............................

District No. 5

William J. Newman and Louis Schwarz

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1907 - John Goetz ........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure.................................

District No. 2

Henry Schaecher ..........................

District No. 3

William M. Pollard........................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Louis Schwarz and Adam Smith.........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1908 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure.................................

District No. 2

C. A. Peterson.............................

District No. 3

William M. Pollard........................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother..............................

District No. 5

Louis Schwarz and Adam Smith ........

Districts Nos.6 and 7

 

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1909 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure..................................

District No. 2

C. A. Peterson.............................

District No. 3

Daniel Wilson ..............................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Louis Schwarz and Adam Smith.........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1910 - Fred Dasenbrock ..................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure.................................

District No. 2

Henry Schaecher ..........................

District No. 3

Daniel Wilson ..............................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother..............................

District No. 5

Louis Schwarz and Adam Smith.........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1911 - Fred Dasenbrock ..................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure.................................

District No. 2

Henry Schaecher ..........................

District No. 3

George C. Anderson......................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Louis Schwarz and Adam Smith.........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

1912 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure..................................

District No. 2

Henry Schaecher ..........................

District No. 3

George C. Anderson......................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Adam Smith and Otto Kummer..........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

No election was held in the fall of the year 1913, as a law had been passed providing for biennial elections. Under that law the first election was held in the fall of 1914, so that under the old law officials held over until 1914, when their successors were elected.

1914 - John Goetz .........................

District No. 1

J. F. Shure.................................

District No. 2

C. A. Peterson.............................

District No. 3

George C. Anderson......................

District No. 4

M. E. Clother...............................

District No. 5

Adam Smith and John B. Kyle...........

Districts Nos. 6 and 7

COUNTY CLERK

1857, John Siebert; 1858, G. W. Hewitt; 1859-61, Francis G. Becher; 1862-7, C. B. Stillman; 1868-72, H. J. Hudson; 1873-6,

 

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F. G. Becher; 1877-88, John Stauffer; 1889-94, G. W. Phillips; 1895-6, Emil Pohl; 1897-1902, G. W. Phillips; 1903-15, John Graf.

TREASURER

1858-78, V. Kummer; 1879-82, John W. Early; 1883-86, C. A. Newman; 1887-90, G. G. Becher; 1891-4, J. W. Lynch; 1895-98, H. S. Elliott; 1899-1902, John G. Becher; 1903-6, Dick A. Becher; 1907-10, Louis Held; 1911-15, Otto E. Heuer.

SHERIFF

1858-1860; E. W. Toncray; 1860-1, J. Rickly; 1862-3, James E. North; 1863-5, J. B. Beebe; 1865-7, John Browner; 1868, C. D. Clother; 1869-71, A. J. Arnold; 1872, George Lehman; 1873-80, Benjamin Spielman; 1881-6, Daniel C. Kavanaugh; 1887-8, Martin C. Bloedorn; 1889-90, J. C. Caldwell; 1891-6, D. C. Kavanaugh; 1897-1902, John C. Byrnes; 1903-8, Charles J. Carrig; 1909-15, Henry C. Lachnit.

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT

This office for some years was combined with that of the county clerk, the duties of both offices devolving upon that official. In 1880 appears the first clerk of the district court, in the person of C. A. Newman; 1883-7, G. Heitkemper; 1888-99, G. B. Speice; 1900-15, Christian Gruenther.

REGISTER OF DEEDS

In 1858 C. B. Stillman was elected recorder and held the office until 1861, when it was merged with the office of the county clerk. The county clerk was ex-officio recorder or register of deeds until 1909. In the year last mentioned the number of inhabitants of the county, as shown by a special census, made the creation of the office of register of deeds feasible. To that end at the regular election, in the fall of 1909, J. F. (Jerry) Carrig was elected to the office and succeeded himself in 1914.

PROBATE JUDGE

1858-1867, A. B. Pattison, Isaac Albertson; 1868-9, E. W. Toncray; 1870-1, I. N. Taylor; 1872-4, John G. Higgins; 1875-82, John

 

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G. Higgins; 1883-4, John J. Sullivan; 1885-6, Charles A. Speice; 1887-8, H. J. Hudson; 1889-94, W. N. Hensley; 1895-6, J. H. Kilian; 1897-9, T. D. Robison; 1900-15, John Ratterman.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

1862, I. N. Taylor; 1864-5, Robert Moreland; 1866-8, O. S. B. Williams; 1869-71, Leander Gerrard.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

1872-3, William A. Marlow; 1874-5, M. B. Hoxie; 1876-7, T. J. Hamilton; 1878-81, M. B. Reese; 1882, Thomas Darnell; 1883, John Patterson; 1884-5, J. K. Vandemark.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

1886-9, John M. Gondring; 1890-1, I. L. Albert; 1892-5, John M. Gondring; 1896-1901, William O'Brien; 1902-5, Lyman R. Latham; 1906-9, W. N. Hensley; 1910-13, C. N. McElfresh; 1914-15, Otto F. Walter.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT

1858-1867, M. Weaver; 1867-71, C. M. Speice; 1869, H. M. Lathrop, failed to qualify and Rev. James B. Chase, Jr., appointed in his place; 1872-4, J. O. Shannon; 1875-6, C. A. Speice; 1877-80, S. L. Barrett; 1881-4, J. E. Moncrief; 1885-6, W. H. Tedrow; 1887-90, L. J. Cramer; 1891-6, M. M. Rothleitner; 1897-1906, L. H. Leavy; 1907-10, Fred S. Lecron.

SURVEYOR

1858-60, Lorin Millar; 1860-9, J. E. North; 1870, Rudolph Kummer; 1871-4, John G. Routson; 1875, J. Struther; 1876-80, Richard L. Rossiter; 1881, H. J. Hudson; 1883-4, John G. Routson; 1885-8, John Ensden; 1889-1910, R. L. Rossiter; 1911, George Von Ackerman, failed to qualify and while candidates for the office have been nominated and elected since that time, none have qualified for the office and in consequence L. F. Gottschalk has been employed by the board when needed, for the duties of the office.

 

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CORONER

1860-5, J. C. Wolfel; 1865-6, L. M. Beebe; 1867-9, James H. Galley; 1870, S. A. Bonesteel; 1871-4, Charles B. Stillman; 1875-84, Dr. Alfonso Heintz; 1885-6, F. J. Schug, Dr. F. H. Geer; 1887-8, J. C. Caldwell; 1889-94, Dr. Alfonso Heintz; 1895-6, H. E. Ayars; 1897-9, P. H. Metz; 1900-02, E. A. Moore; 1903-6, P. H. Metz; 1907-8, Dr. A. Cauley; 1909-15, Henry Gass, Jr.

MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE

When the First Legislature of Nebraska Territory convened at Omaha, Tuesday, January 16, 1855, Platte County was a part of Dodge, which was represented in the council, or upper house of that body, by Munson H. Clark and in the House of Representatives by Eli R. Doyle and J. W. Richardson. In the Second Territorial Legislature John Evans served in the council for Dodge County, vice Munson H. Clark, deceased. Thomas Gibson was in the lower house. In the Third, Jacob Safford, in the council; Silas E. Seely, representing Dodge and Platte in the Legislature; Fourth, no change in the council. John M. Taggart represented Dodge and Platte Counties in the lower house; Fifth, Dodge and Platte Counties, Henry W. DePuy, in the Legislature; Sixth, Dodge, Platte, Green and Butler Counties, John Reck in the Legislature; Seventh, Butler, Calhoun, Green and Platte Counties, Charles H. Whaley, in the Legislature; Eighth, representative, Platte, Green, Calhoun and Butler, John Reck; Ninth, representative, John P. Becker. The Tenth session of the Territorial Legislature convened at Omaha, January 5, 1865. The council was divided into districts for the first time. Platte, with Monroe, Merrick, Hall, Buffalo, Kearney and Lincoln, was placed in the fifth district, and represented by Isaac Albertson, of Columbus; representative, Guy C. Barnum; Eleventh, council, Isaac Albertson; representative, Guy C. Barnum. This ended the sittings of the Legislature for the Territory of Nebraska, as that great subdivision of the national domain was preparing itself to enter the Union as a state.

  A new State Legislature had been chosen by the people of the territory at the election held in October, 1866, consisting for the most part of the same persons elected to the territorial council and house. On the 14th of February, 1867, Governor Saunders issued his proclamation, calling the members of the Legislature to meet at

 

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the capital on the 20th inst., to take action upon certain conditions proposed by Congress. The Legislature assembled and passed the bill, accepting the fundamental conditions on February 21st. At the time, John E. Kelly represented Platte County in the lower house. On the 4th of April, Governor Butler issued his call for an extra session. President Andrew Johnson having issued, on the 1st of March, his proclamation announcing the admission of Nebraska into the Union. On the 18th of May the Legislature came together and set in motion the machinery of the state. At this session Vincent Kummer represented Platte County in the council, and E. W. Arnold in the House.

  The Twelfth session of the Territorial Legislature, really the Second session of the State Legislature, met in Omaha, January 10, 1867. On the council was Vincent Kummer, and Platte was represented in the House by John E. Kelly.

  The so-called Third session of the State Legislature (but in reality the First session), met at Omaha under proclamation of Governor Butler, May 16, 1867. The state comprised eleven senatorial districts. F. K. Freeman represented the fifth district, in which Platte had been placed; in the House was John E. Kelly, from Columbus.

  The representation for this district in the Fourth assembly was the same as in the third; fifth assembly, Senate, tenth district; Guy C. Barnum; House, C. A. Speice; sixth, convened February 17, 1870; Senate, Guy C. Barnum; House, C. A. Speice. Immediately after the close of the sixth session the seventh was assembled March 4, 1870, on proclamation of the governor, and was in fact but a continuation of the preceding session. Eighth, Senate, Leander Gerrard. representing the eleventh senatorial district, comprising Merrick, Hall, Buffalo, Kearney, Lincoln and Platte Counties, House, H. J. Hudson, for Platte and Colfax Counties; ninth, Senate, representing the ninth district, Guy C. Barnum; House, Platte and Colfax Counties, A. J. Arnold. The tenth session was an extra one, and the old members held over; eleventh, Senate, Guy C. Barnum; House, Albinus Nance, for York, Polk, Butler, Platte, Hamilton, Clay and Adams Counties; 1876, fourteenth senatorial district, .James E. North; House, thirty-eighth district, Guy C. Barnum, Jr.; fifty-first district, Caleb Davis; 1877, thirty-eighth district, H. J. Spoerry; 1878, Senate, Henry C. Wright; House, thirty-eighth district, Thomas C. Ryan; fifty-first district, Darwin C. Loveland; 1880, Senate, M. L. Turner; House, thirty-eighth district, George

 

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Lehman; fifty-first district, Jonas Welch; 1882, Senate, thirteenth district, O. F. Brown; House, twenty-third district, Frank E. North; 1884, Senate, thirteenth district, W. N. Hensley; House, twenty-third district, John A. Kehoe; twenty-fifth district, Adolph Ernst; 1886, Senate, Patrick M. Higgins; House, twenty-third district, John J. Sullivan; twenty-fifth district, John W. Finch; 1888, Senate, twelfth district, Michael Maher; House, twenty-fourth district, J. C. Swartsley; twenty-fifth district, O. E. Green; 1890, Senate, John C. Van Housen; House, twenty-fourth district, William Schelp; twenty-fifth district, Henry Stevens. 1892, Senate, James E. North; House, twenty-fourth district, William Schelp; twenty-fifth district, W. J. Irwin. 1894, Senate, John C. Sprecher; House, twenty-fourth district, Gus G. Becher; twenty-fifth district, F. H. Penny. 1896, Senate, John M. Gondring; House, twenty-fourth district, O. S. Moran; twenty-fifth district, N. Secor Hyatt. 1898, Senate, James A. Dunn; House, twenty-fourth district, O. S. Moran; twenty-fifth, James W. Tanner. 1900, Senate, Joseph L. Paschal; House, twenty-fourth district, Dirk A. Becher; twenty-fifth district, James W. Tanner. 1902, Senate, Warren A. Way; House, twenty-fourth district, Dirk A. Becher; twenty-fifth district, Eugene E. Fellers. 1904, senator, Hugh Hughes; representative twenty-fourth district, John W. Bender; twenty-fifth district, Fred Hoare. 1906, Senate, Thomas A. Saunders; House, twenty-fourth district, James Greig; twenty-fifth district, John Weems. 1908, Senate, F. J. Henry; House, twenty-fourth district, James Greig; twenty-fifth district, John H. Weems. 1910, Senate, J. L. Albert; representative twenty-fourth district, Charles Schneth; twenty-fifth district, R. C. Regan. 1912, Senate, eleventh district, F. D. Lind; representative twenty-fifth district, John Schneth; twenty-sixth district, R. C. Regan. 1914, Senate, Charles Krumbach; representative twenty-fifth district, Henry Clayburn; twenty-sixth district, R. C. Regan.

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