Greeley County, Nebraska
1880 County History

Greeley County, named in honor of Hon. Horace Greeley, was organized in 1872. It is located in the sixth tier of Counties west of the Missouri River, in the central part of the State from north to south, and is bounded on the north by Wheeler, east by Boone, south by Howard, and west by Valley County, containing 576 square miles, or 368,640 acres, at an average elevation of 2,000 feet above the sea level.

Water Courses — The County is watered by the North Fork of the Loup River and several large tributaries. The North Fork flows through the southwestern portion, and is a good mill stream. Its principal branches in this County are Fish, Wallace, Babcock, Shepard, Stewart, Willow and Davis Creeks, the latter stream having a flouring mill upon it. Spring Creek waters the central portion, and Cedar Creek the northeastern portion of the County.

Timber — The natural timber is confined to the small quantities along the streams, cottonwood and elm being the most abundant. Some very fine cedar timber is found along the stream bearing that name, and in the bluffs. Thrifty artificial groves surround almost every farm house.

Stone — A good building stone is found in the bluffs of the North Fork.

Topography — About one-fourth of the County is valley—the balance rolling prairie and bluff. The valley of the North Fork is here from two to four miles wide, and is usually skirted on both sides with a high range of bluffs. Cedar Valley varies in width from one and a half to three miles. The uplands possess a dark, rich soil, and produce excellent crops of small grain. Nutritious grasses and running water are abundant, affording fine advantages for sheep and cattle raising.

Crops — Acres under cultivation, 4,685 ¼ ; Rye 177 acres, 2,323 bushels; spring wheat 1,992 ¾ acres, 24,302 bushels; corn 1,005 ½ acres, 19,670 bushels; barley 143 acres, 3,402 bushels; oats 418 ¾ acres, 13,673 bushels; sorghum 6 7/8 acres, 851 gallons; potatoes 52 ¾ acres, 6,737 bushels.

Historical — The first permanent settlements in the County were made in August, 1871, by S. C. Scott, A. Shepard and J. G. Kellog, who came from Illinois and located on Shepard Creek, on the north side of the Loup.

November 1, 1871, Messrs. A. P. Fish, L. E. Gaffy and J. M. Talmadge located claims on Fish Creek. Mr. Gaffy built the first house in the County, into which he and Mr. Fish moved in February, 1872, Mr. Fish's family arriving in May following.

Claims were taken on Cedar Creek in 1872, Mr. William Shaw being one of the first to locate here.

In 1874, O. M. Harris, T. McKernan, and others, located on Spring Creek, and soon afterwards the town of Eldorado was laid out and a Postoffice established.

The first woman in the County was Mrs. James Wallace, of Virginia, who came in 1872. She shortly afterwards, however, returned to her home in the East. Mrs. Gray, who still resides in the County, was the first permanent lady settler.

The first sod was turned in May, 1872. The first Postoffice was established at Lamartine, on the Loup, in 1873, with Mr. A. P. Fish postmaster. The first marriage occurred in April, 1874, and was that of Mr. A. N. Bradt to Miss Clara Harlow. The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Sheldon, in July, 1873. The first death in the County occurred in September, 1875, and was that of Job Skay, an old gentleman over seventy years of age, who was thrown from a load of hay and instantly killed.

The first general election for County officers was held at the house of Mr. A. P. Fish, on the 13th of October, 1872, and resulted as follows: A. P. Fish, A. Shepard, and T. C. Davis, Commissioners; E. B. Fish, Clerk; S. C. Scott, Treasurer; M. Davis, Surveyor; J. G. Kellog, Superintendent Public Instruction; George Hillman, Probate Judge; G. W. Babcock, Sheriff; C. Wellman, Coroner.

Public Schools — Number of school districts, thirteen; school houses, four; children of school age — males 129, females 141; total, 270; whole number of children that attended school during the year, 139; number of qualified teachers employed—males four» females ten; total, fourteen; wages paid teachers for the year — males $176.75, females $796; total, $972.75; total value of school property, $1,865.

Taxable Property — Acres of land, 184,673; average value per acre, $0.83. Value of town lots, $910. Money invested in merchandise, $605; money used in manufactures, $720; number of horses 307, value $11,821; number of mules 33, value $1,461; neat cattle 1272, value $11,237; sheep 78, value $98; swine 395, value $617; vehicles 160, value $3,641; moneys and credits, $745; mortgages, $406; furniture, $1,763; libraries, $140; property not enumerated, $6,028. Total valuation, $194,866.

Lands — There is considerable fine government land in this County subject to entry under the homestead and pre-emption laws. The value of improved lands ranges from $4 to $12 per acre. The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company owns 135,000 acres here, for which they ask from $1 to $5 per acre.

Population — The following is the population of the County by Precincts: Scotia, 282; Adell, 79; Cedar Valley, 146; Spring Creek, 146; O'Connor, 140. Total 753, of whom 436 were males and 317 females. The population of the County in 1878 was 473; increase in last year, 280.

Johnson’s History of Nebraska, 1880
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

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