This flourishing town is situated on Battle Creek, about one mile above its junction with the Elkhorn. It is surrounded by level prairie, better adapted to grazing and meadow than to the raising of cereals, though the soil is rich, and, where plowed, produces excellent corn. The town site, at the time of the laying-out … Read more
Madison County is in the third tier of counties, south from the Missouri River, on the north line of the State, and the fourth tier from the same river on the east line of the State. Its area contains 576 square miles, or 368,640 acres. The county was created in 1856, by the Territorial Legislature, … Read more
The people of Madison County have had but little trouble on account of Indians. The settlement on the North Fork had, perhaps, most difficulty with them in the spring of 1867. The winter had been exceptionally severe, snow lying on the level to the depth of three feet, and the cold being intense. It was … Read more
Madison was made the county seat October 12, 1875. It is beautifully situated at the junction of Union and Taylor Creeks. It is immediately surrounded by valley and rolling prairie, most of the land in all directions for a number of miles being well adapted to mixed farming. To the westward, in what is called … Read more
Historical and Biographical Sketches of Madison, Madison County, Nebraska Barnes, F. W. Barnes, W. J. Bauch, Phil Becker, H. E. Bridenstine, S. J. Dr. Clark, P. A. Findeisen, L. W. Fricke, Herman Fritz, F. W. Gerecke, William Hoffman, F. Kelly, H. D. Kimball, William E. Rev. Neidig, C. Prince, E. F. Robertson, W. M. Scott, … Read more
Norfolk is located on the North Fork of the Elkhorn, in the northeastern part of the county, about four miles above its junction with the main branch of that river. The valley surrounding it is level, and the town is occasionally flooded. This might be, and probably will be, prevented. The first store-keeper here, and … Read more
Historical and Biographical Sketches of Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska Asmus, Carl Bear, Alex Dr. Bugelow, A. Daniel, D. R. Dr. Donaldson, I. B. Fletcher, George B. Gerecke, Herman Hayes, C. S. Hayes, Samuel W. Hon. Jones, B. W. Koenigstein, J. Mathewson, Charles Hon. Mathewson, Charles P. McClary, J. S. Olney, John E. Pilger, A. P. … Read more
The town was incorporated in 1881. Its first Board of Trustees were: Charles P. Matthewson, Chairman; John E. Olney, Clerk; A. P. Pilger, John Koenigstein and Frederick Lukas; Samuel W. Hayes was chosen Treasurer. Of the principal business men in Norfolk, John E. Olney settled here in 1869, and erected his fine, large brick store … Read more
The county was organized in December, 1867, and the first election was held in a small frame house on Taylor Creek, January 21, 1868. The following officers were elected at that time: County Commissioners, Herman Braasch, August Raasch and Henry M. Barnes; Probate Judge, Frederick Wagner; Clerk, Samuel H. Thatch; Treasurer, Frederick Heckendorf; Surveyor, August … Read more
Blakely Post Office is situated on mostly level prairie. It was established in 1880, George B. Rouse being appointed first Postmaster. Mr. Blake was the first settler, in 1871; others were Messrs. Hutchins, Reynolds, Snow and Derry. The first birth was that of Mary Hamley, in August, 1871. E. Rouse taught the first school. Except … Read more