Madison County Archives – Nebraska Genealogy

Railroads of Madison County, Nebraska

Depot, Norfolk Junction, Madison County Nebraska

In the year 1872, the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company made their selection of lands within the county to the amount of 88,000 acres. A brief history of the difficulties connected with the title to these lands, and of the contests over the payment of the taxes may be found in connection with Antelope County. Suffice it to mention here, the terms of settlement of the question between the Burlington & Missouri Company and Madison County. The case was brought in the United States District Court for Nebraska, Judge Elmer S. Dundy presiding, under the title of Horatio H. Hunnewell … Read more

Natural Resources of Madison County, Nebraska

In this, as in other counties generally throughout the State, the different varieties of grasses constitute the principal natural source of wealth. Blue-joint is the most valuable kind, and from the valleys and uplands an abundance of excellent pasturage and nutritious hay is obtained. A little buffalo grass is still visible on the sandy plains, and several kinds of coarse slough grass grow on the bottom lands. When the earliest settlers came into this county, considerable timber was found along the Elkhorn, and the creeks in the southern part of the county. Cottonwood trees a foot in diameter were found, … Read more

Schools and Population of Madison County, Nebraska

Public Schools The county has manifested commendable interest in the cause of public education, and has made noteworthy progress. There are fifty-seven school districts, fifty-three schoolhouses, sixty-five qualified teachers, and 2,225 school children enumeratedl,150 males and 1,075 females. The schoolhouse sites are valued at $1,110; schoolhouses at $10,337; books and apparatus at $350. Population When the county was organized in December, 1867, it contained about thirty families, perhaps one hundred and fifty persons. In 1876, it contained a population of 3,288; in 1880, according to the Government census, 5,587. The Assessors’ returns for 1881 make the population 5,577, distributed among … Read more

Early Settlements in Madison County, Nebraska

The first explorers of Madison County of whom we have any account, were two Germans from Jefferson County, Wisconsin, who left their homes September 1, 1865, to look for new homes in Nebraska. They came here by way of St. Joseph, Missouri, Omaha, Elkhorn City, Fontanelle and West Point. Here they hired a team to take them to the North Fork of the Elkhorn. Eight miles above West Point, the most advanced settler was found. Passing on, they reached their destination September 15. These two pioneers were Herman Braasch and Frederick Wagner. After selecting a location for a colony with … Read more

Biographies of Madison Nebraska

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, M. C. Searles, William T. Seidel, H. G. Sherlock, J. J. Steele, A. H. Stuart, James Tyrrel, A. C. Wolf, F. W. Source: Andreas, A. T. History of the State of Nebraska, p. 1108-1109. Chicago: The Western Historical Company. 1882.

History of Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska

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 the pioneer store-keeper of the county, was Evan Jones, who kept a small store in a dug-out, near the present site of the “Norfolk Mills,” in November, 1866. These mills were built by Col. Charles Mathewson, being completed in February, 1870, and they determined the … Read more

Biographies of Norfolk Nebraska

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. Pollock, J. G Selah, C. Verges, F. Dr. Wegener, F. Welch, Frank Hon. Widaman, W. H. Yost, A. N. Source: Andreas, A. T. History of the State of Nebraska, p. 1106-1107. Chicago: The Western Historical Company. 1882.

Incorporation of Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska

Lutheran Community Hospital, Norfolk, Nebraska

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 in 1879; Carl Asmus came in 1871, and erected his store, constructed of homemade brick, in 1880; J. S. McClary and A. P. Pilger came also in 1871; Dr. Daniels in 1872; W. H. Widaman and S. W. Hayes in 1873; John Koenigstein in 1871, … Read more

The Organization of Madison County, Nebraska

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 Lentz; Coroner, Horace J. Severance; Sheriff, Fielding Bradshaw; County Assessor, Frederick Boche; Justices of the Peace, John Allison and William Bickley; Constables, Thomas Bickley and Fred Hasse. The Commissioners held their first meeting at the house of Samuel H. Thatch, April 6, 1868, at which … Read more

History of Other Towns in Madison County, Nebraska

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 the post office, there is only a blacksmith shop here. Warren Post Office is situated in the northwest part of the county, on the Elkhorn River. O. P. Goodrich, Postmaster. It is surrounded by a fine grazing section, and near it is some excellent farming … Read more