Why was
Kearney located here at this exact spot in what is now central Nebraska?
D N Smith and
Asbury Collins arrived at Ft. Kearny in early April 1871
Blizzard – Same one that greeted the Gibbon Homestead Colony Guided
by Moses Sydenham
Crossed the Platte on April 11 to mark the junction site of UP & B&MR
But was it a random
selection?
It’s all about transportation.
I. Early
transportation networks in the westward movement a.
Trails which became roads – Walking – horseback – Wagon routes
b. Railroads – East of the Mississippi River [See maps pre-Civil War in
1835
and in 1860]
Chicago became a railroad hub
II. Land
Grant Railroads
Received alternate sections along the route 20 miles wide
Railroad went down the middle so they owned property 10 miles on each side
III. Union Pacific
“Transcontinental” Railroad
Began in Omaha – Ended in San Francisco [See map
1870] Built
through Buffalo County in summer 1866
IV.
Burlington & Missouri River Railroad
Started in Chicago as C B & Q Went
west across Illinois, crossed Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa
Received land grant to cross Iowa to Red Oak
V.
Burlington’s land grant to cross Nebraska
a. Goal was to also be a transcontinental railroad in competition with UP b. But
first, form a junction with Union Pacific (temporary until they finished)
East of 100th Meridian, farthest south point on UP
VI.
Selecting the spot a. Only
civilization on map at that time was Ft. Kearny
Junction had to be in that area
b. D.
N. Smith - Land Agent for B & MR RR
Born in New York state 1810
c.
William Patterson
Born in Warsaw, New York in 1831
Orphaned at 7, raised by uncles - a Judge and an ex-governor of New York
Chose not to attend college – worked in cousin Augustus Frank’s store \
George Frank was a brother, working there also
Joined “national guard” – well trained in all areas including hydrology
Hydrology: study of the properties, distribution, and effects of
water on the earth's surface,
in the soil and underlying rocks
Now 25 – went to Minneapolis – real estate,
interested in potential for water power there
Civil War – wounded twice
Minneapolis – real estate again
Go South because of war wounds – went to Iowa near cousin George Frank
Went to work for Burlington building through Iowa and in Nebraska to
Hastings
Build northwest to junction - Laid out Lowell
d. Smith asked Patterson to scope out the land along the UP track
e. Patterson discovered the underground water reserves
f. Could not build junction with UP directly north of Ft. Kearny at Kearney
Station
It was on the Ft. Kearny military reservation
g. Smith went west about 5 miles on the UP route
Four men filed homestead claims on Section 2 (from present 2nd Ave west to
17th St.)
Smith purchased Section 1 from the UP (from present 2nd Ave east to Ave N)
Those in the know thought he would put it in Section 2
He chose Section 1, his own land, - just east of present Central Ave.
VII. Why was the
town at this junction so important?
100% train passengers going west or east would pass through this spot either
on the UP or transferring from Burlington Missouri Rail Road
People saw the potential business opportunities here
Not settled by one ethnic group – individuals came from all over