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County Government
The Early Days
[Source: Bassett & 1870 Federal Census unless
otherwise noted]
I. Organization of the County
Records show Buffalo County was organized in 1855 by Nebraska
Territorial legislature a year after Nebraska was organized as a territory
Officials were elected and probably acted in their official capacity
sometimes, but there are no official records until 1870.
The only official Buffalo County
records of the period 1858-1870 are in Hall County
(Nothing from 1855-1857)
Land office was there also where
people had to go to file homesteads.
Reorganized in 1870
Patrick Walsh, Martin Slattery (UP
employee), Sgt. Michael Coady (stationed at Ft. Kearny) sent petition to
Nebraska governor in 1869 asking for an election in the county before
organizing the county.
Gov. Butler issued a proclamation
calling for a re-organization of Buffalo county because it had become
disorganized when county officials moved west in 1867, and that a special
election be held at Dist. 1 schoolhouse on Jan. 20, 1870.
II. County Board Composition
County organization 1870 - 1883
Divided into 3 districts
A
Commissioner elected from each after 1871
3-year terms
New Law forming townships Nov. 1883 to Dec. 1895
One representative from each
township
1-year terms
159 men held office in these 12 years
most years
served one 6-years & one 8-years
Amended plan - January 1896 1915 [year Bassett wrote this history
of the county]
Seven districts
2-year terms
Present Day (see county website)
Still 7 districts
4-year terms
Elections staggered so 4 are elected
in one election, 3 in the next
III. Elections, Officials, Board
Actions
Special election called by the Governor January 20, 1870
First elected officials
County commissioners A.
C. McLane not in 1870 census,
Thomas Woods farmer, born in Virginia
Edward Oliver farmer Purchased Joseph Johnsons store in [Shelton]
Probate judge Patrick Walsh
- farmer
County clerk Martin Slattery
U P Railroad Section laborer at Shelton
Treasurer Henry Dugdale -
farmer, stock raiser
Sheriff Roger Hayes RR
Section laborer, born in Ireland [citizen??]
Road supervisor Angustus
Meyer farmer, lived next to Ed Oliver
Coroner J T Walker RR
station agent [in Dist. 2 Stevenson Siding??]
Surveyor George P. Russell
not in 1870 census
1st Meeting of new county commissioners
Edward Oliver
Thomas Woods
A C McLane absent
Samuel Boyd younger brother of
James listed as member at 1st meeting
Divided county into 3 precincts.
1. Hall
county line to present east edge of Kearney
2. East edge
of Kearney to Stevenson Siding (Alfalfa Center, west of Odessa)
3. Odessa to
Phelps Co. line (Elm Creek)
[Divisions
were used in 1870 census]
Passed four resolutions:
1. Resolved
to hold all business at Dist. 1 schoolhouse until Oct. election
2. Resolved
to tax all horny cattle at rate of $10 for 1 to2 year olds, $30 for over 2
years old
(dehorn the milk cows)
[horny cattle were the Texas longhorns]
3. Resolved that all whiskey saloon
keepers pay $25 a year + $25 per billiard table per year
4. Resolved that John Oliver be
appointed Sheriff and assessor
Apparently
his brother James was later appointed and served as the first assessor
First regular election October 11, 1870
35 registered voters, 3 more taxpayers who did not register to vote
[All men, women could not vote yet]
Bassett says:
It is related
that on election day as the hour for closing the polls drew near 15
registered voters had failed to cast their votes [20 had voted, 57% ]
Judge of the
election arose and said: "I am well acquainted with these men who have not
voted; they are all good and true men, and I will vouch for them."
He then
placed fifteen ballots in the ballot box
These were
later counted with those regularly cast.
Bassett continues:
If this be
true it is believed it was not done to further any partisan end or purpose
but as a neighborly act, it not being convenient for the voter to attend in
person, a neighbor kindly performs the necessary duty instead.
Results of the election of Oct. 11, 1870
County Commissioners - Edward
Oliver (dist. 1).
Wm. C. Booth
(Dist.2) Saloon keeper living next door to the RR station agent, Walker
Who had been elected Coroner
Charles Davis
(Dist. 3) Country merchant
Also living with him & his wife was the (Elm Creek) RR station agent
Probate judge Patrick Walsh
[same]
County clerk Michael Coady
accepted the
position even though he was still stationed at Ft. Kearny so he was not a
resident of Buffalo county.
He furnished
an iron bound box to keep the county records in.
Attended all
the Co. Board meetings and was frequently asked for advice
Treasurer - Henry Dugdale
[same]
Sheriff John Oliver [moved
from appointed to elected]
[Road supervisor, surveyor & corner
not mentioned]
School superintendant Thomas
Wood was chosen superintendent,
[was on
original County Board]
Was not known
whether he qualified
In case he
did not qualify, the Board appointed Patrick Walsh to take the position at
the first meeting after
election was held [which Walsh did]
Patrick Walsh The man who really ran the business of the county
Still county judge
also deputy county clerk, deputy
treasurer, deputy superintendent of schools
he actually kept the box with the
records.
[He signed the first marriage license
issued by the county in 1870 to Sarah Oliver and Joseph Owens]
Found in Passing
Kearney Cemetery (military burial area)
Croston, T. H.- When Government markers were sent, this marker was sent by
mistake.
They did not know where to return the marker so placed it with the others.
There is no body there.
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