County Organization

 

 

    What is now known as Lincoln County was first organized as a county under the Territorial government of Nebraska, in 1860.

     

    Cottonwood Springs was made the county seat.

     

    The following officers were elected:

     

J. P. Boyer, J. C. Gillman and J. A. Morrow - Commissioners

 

Charles McDonald - Judge

 

W. M. Hinman - Treasurer

 

 

    Instead of being called Lincoln, the county was called Shorter.  Nothing more important than the organization was done because the only officers that ever took the trouble to qualify for their respective offices were J. A. Morrow and Charles McDonald.

     

    In 1866, steps were taken to reorganize old Shorter County, since the first organization had no effect so far as the government of the county was concerned.  The officers elected in 1860 having failed, with two or three exceptions, to qualify, and no other election having been held, the organization of the county was practically of no effect.

     

    On September 3, 1866, a meeting was held and arrangement made to re-organize Shorter county under the name of Lincoln, in accordance with the Territorial laws of Nebraska, as this was before Nebraska became a state.  

     

    An election was called for the following October.  The early records are so incomplete that it is impossible to give the names of all the officers elected at this time.

     

    A partial list was:

     

J. C. Gillman, W. M. Hinman and J. A. Marow - Commissioners

 

S. D. Fitchie - Judge

 

William Baker - Sheriff

 

Charles McDonald - Clerk

 

    The county seat remained Cottonwood Springs.

 

 

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Source:  Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Lincoln County