Nebraska Roots and Ramblings

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society

2012-01-28T10:18:00.000-06:00

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society (LLCGS) in the capital city of Lincoln, Nebraska, is an active group who provide education and guidance in genealogical research. They also promote the collection and preservation of records of historical and genealogical value.

The society holds monthly membership meetings that are open to the public. In addition to their regular meetings, they also have educational programs or discussion groups. By clicking on Events on the home page, you will find information about the programs. Meetings are open to the public.

In addition to their meetings and education programs, the society publishes a monthly newsletter for their members. Their genealogical collection is housed in the Ella Johnson Crandall Memorial Library at Union College in Lincoln. It is open to the public. Their collection is not limited to Nebraska resources. The college is located at 3800 South 48th Street in Lincoln. Union College is a Seventh-Day Adventist college and closed on Saturdays. The library hours are:

Sunday 1 pm - 10:30 pm
Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 10:30 pm (closed during school year on Tuesdays 10:20 to 11:30 am)
Friday 8:30 am to 1 pm

If you are in the area of Lincoln, Nebraska, try to attend one of their meetings or educational programs. It will be worth your while to also spend time at the library.

Nebraska Courthouse Web Pages

2012-01-07T10:33:00.000-06:00

Nebraska in 1895

Genealogical research in Nebraska should not be limited to the large collections, such as Ancestry.com, or even to USGenWeb pages for Nebraska. You should always check online for Nebraska courthouses, using a Google search. Almost all of the courthouses have web pages.

If you are planning to visit a courthouse, look for the location information and hours. In some cases, there will be more detailed information pertaining to the county offices. You can also call a specific office regarding their records, if they are within the courthouse or need to be requested from a storage area, or if they have been archived in another location.

I have found interesting information on Nebraska county courthouse web pages. For example, Hamilton County has an excellent collection of maps. These include village plats, county roads and an excellent cemetery map of the county, all of which can be downloaded in PDF.

Nearby Hall County has a link on their county courthouse web page for maps and atlases for Hall County which include the years 1885, 1890 and 1904, along with early maps of Grand Island/Hall County plus early maps of Nebraska. There are also links to important histories of the county. Whoever designed their web page has the genealogist in mind.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-19T09:09:00.001-06:00

Wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas. That includes people living in Nebraska and people living anywhere else in the world.

Ruby

History of Cozad, Nebraska

2011-12-06T13:18:00.000-06:00

Along the Platte River, Cozad is a community located in Dawson County, Nebraska. Because of its location, it is rich in history from the Oregon Trail time period to the building of the Union Pacific Railroad and opening of highways.

An early pioneer merchant, Charles E. Allen, put together a story of Cozad which was eventually published in the 1950s. Frank M. Johnson, a Cozad native and Lexington attorney, contributed a good deal of work toward the publication. Their publication on the early history of Cozad is fascinating to read. The reminiscences are interesting as well as the history, even of various Cozad families.

The Tri-City Printers, Inc. realized the need for an updated history which would take the history from 1960 to the present. Along with the Cozad Centennial Committee and other civic officials, the book, Early and Modern History of Cozad Community, has been published. White pages designate the original book and blue pages represent the updated history. While the book is not indexed, it contains valuable information about Cozad and its people and businesses.

The book sells for $4.00 and is available from the Tri-City Tribune, PO Box 6, Cozad, NE 69130, phone 308-784-3644. The Tri-City Trib web page has information under "Contact" for contacting the newspaper by e-mail.

A Great One Passes

2011-11-13T08:58:00.000-06:00

Bridgett A. Schneider 1946-2011

Many genealogists take what is on Internet for granted. When something is gone on Internet we moan and groan and do not realize what happens behind the scenes. For the most part, we don't even know the administrator of the web site. They are human beings like us, only perhaps more dedicated in making genealogical information available to the public.

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness' (RAOGK) administrator, Bridgett A. Schneider passed away on 12 November 2011 at the age of 64. I doubt that many of you knew that Bridgett was from Lincoln, Nebraska. She leaves a husband, children, grandchildren and thousands of genealogical friends. Click here for an obituary for Bridgett.

When RAOGK went down less than a month ago, Bridgett announced that they were having computer problems and she was having health issues. Her husband, Dale, promised her that he would get RAOGK back up and maintain it. I hope he keeps his promise to Bridgett and also to the world of genealogists.

RIP, Bridgett ... you have been an inspiration to all of us, as well as being a dedicated genealogist.

Cemetery Directory

2011-09-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

Have you ever driven to a cemetery to find a grave only to discover the cemetery is huge, nobody is "at home" in the office and you have no clue where to start looking? Many larger cemeteries have directories of some sort that assist in locating graves.

The North Platte Cemetery (North Platte, NE) is located on West Rodeo Road which is also Highway 30. It is on 30 developed acres, with an additional 15 acres undeveloped for future needs. The original cemetery in the 1860s was located at Fourth and Locust Streets which is now in-town. The North Platte Cemetery Association was established on 13 December 1872. They purchased five acres of land at $20 per acre for a new cemetery. About six months later the land was divided into lots and offered for $10 each. In 1884 Mrs. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) sold an additional 10 acres of land to the association, making a total of 15 acres.

Through the years the cemetery has developed and enlarged in size, making it almost impossible to locate a grave without some assistance or map. The North Platte Genealogical Society has established a Electronic Directory Fund at Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation in North Platte. The intent is to raise $25,000 for the directory, plus more for maintenance. Because of the 501(c) (3) status of the foundation, donors will be able to make contributions that are tax deductible. They are hoping that people consider the fund for a memorial designation or a donation in memory of a loved one.

The North Platte Genealogical Society has several money making projects for the future and hope that people will respond to the need for the directory. With no deadline established for fund raising, it is hoped that soon there will be an electronic directory at the cemetery.

Canteen Memories

2011-09-02T09:19:00.000-05:00

Seventy years ago and for six more years, over six million servicemen and women traveled through Nebraska by train on their way to camps and bases or for deployment. Some returned from World War II and others did not. As the trains pulled into North Platte, Nebraska, they were met by volunteers who had made sandwiches, cookies, cakes and coffee for them. Some were given birthday cakes or apples and words of encouragement and support. Those who returned from the war would always remember North Platte, Nebraska. Through the years stories have been told, reunions held and books written about the North Platte Canteen.

North Platte and surrounding communities were caught up in the canteen spirit. Donations were accepted, baking was non-stop and volunteers cheerfully showed up to meet the trains. Young girls were known to have flirted with soldiers and established a correspondence that endured throughout the war. It was a time when tensions ran high, but spirits were higher.

During North Platte's annual Rail Fest this month, there will be events celebrating the Canteen. The annual Rail Fest celebrates the bond between North Platte and the Union Pacific Railroad, with a celebration being held September 16, 17 and 18, 2011. A film "Canteen Spirit" will be presented in the North Platte Community Playhouse at the Neville Center for the Performing Arts in downtown North Platte. There will also be a panel discussion with former canteen volunteers and soldiers, along with an authentic Canteen meal. This event will be on Friday, September 16th at 1 pm and 4 pm, Saturday, September 17th at 4 pm and Sunday, September 18th at 2 p.m. Contact phone numbers are 308-532-8559 or 308-530-2233.

Canteen Memories is the title of this year's cemetery tour that is hosted by the North Platte Public Library Foundation. Tribute will be paid to the World War II soldiers and the women who volunteered to help with the Canteen effort. As people walk through the North Platte Cemetery they will find local actors and actresses portraying a soldier buried in the cemetery, as well as people involved in the Canteen effort. The tours begin at the cemetery on Rodeo Road on Friday, September 16th from 4 pm to 8 pm. Saturday, September 17th, tours will be held at the cemetery from 1 pm to 5 pm. On Tuesday, September 20th, there will be a non-walking presentation at the North Platte Community College Theater, South Campus. It begins at 7 pm that evening. Advance tour tickets are $10 at the North Platte Public Library, 120 West 4th, or $15 at the door or gate of the cemetery.

This is a time to rekindle the spirit of the Canteen by participating in Rail Fest activities. When finished with the presentations, I encourage you to visit the Lincoln County Historical Museum located at 2403 N. Buffalo Bill Ave. in North Platte. They have an extensive collection memorabilia from the World War II Canteen. Just for the record ... over six and half million servicemen and women were served during the Canteen era.

Using Nebraska Mailing Lists

2011-08-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

Mailing lists were one of the first forms of mass communication and sharing for genealogists. By joining a mailing list somebody might find your information, be able to help you locate information and have ideas for your research. Today they seem to have taken a backseat to other phases of Internet. Mailings lists are still a viable way to share, search and locate ancestral information. It may take months or years before somebody sees your archived post to a mailing list, but it is worth the wait.

A link to Nebraska mailing lists hosted by RootsWeb can be found at Nebraska Mailing Lists. Some of the available lists are by county and others by topic. Some of the topics include Cemeteries, Lookups, Czechs, Freedmen, Old News, Roll Call Nebraska, Gen-Societies, Vintage Photos, NE Roots, West NE, and Ghosttowns. A list and description of Nebraska mailing lists is also at Genealogy Resources on Internet. Many of the Nebraska USGenWeb pages have county links to mailing lists.

When you decide upon one or more Nebraska mailing list of interest, consider if you want to subscribe by having single e-mails sent or if you want them grouped together in digest format. You can always change your mind later. Some mailing lists have a lot of activity and others do not. You may be the first person to join and post to since 2008! Once you have joined a mailing list, you can wait for the emails to arrive or you can immediately start your own thread and send a message to the subscribers.

From the link you used to join, there are options under each mailing list. You can search the archives from the list or browse them. To get a better idea of the list activity, date of last post and context of the posts, click on browse. By doing this before subscribing to the mailing list, you will have a better idea of the activity of the mailing list. If you have a specific interest, search the archives for names, locations or topics. Later if you don't want to be subscribed to the mailing list, go back to where you joined and follow the instructions for unsubscribing.

Let the fun begin ... start browsing, searching and subscribing!

Nebraska Ghost Towns

2011-07-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

Ghost towns are described as towns that used to be populated and are now extinct or abandoned. Maybe the ghosts prowl them at night, but I've never seen one! Nebraska has its share of ghost towns. If your ancestors lived in these towns or villages, you might be interested in learning more about them.

My father used to point out a community known as Charleston in York County. It was located southwest of York, Nebraska and north of Luston. There isn't anything to remind people of what it looked like, but my father remembered it when he was a boy.

In Greeley County was Belfast, located northwest about ten miles from the town of Greeley. You can still see a foundation of the grain elevator, abandoned farm house and equipment. When the railroad pulled out in 1937, the town folded.

North of Seneca in the sandhills there was a town called Jim Town. It was located in Cherry County. There used to be homes there, plus a church and other buildings. All that is left now is the cemetery.

Ten miles south of Brownville in Nemaha County, in what is now Indian Cave State Park, stood the town of St. Deroin. It was founded in 1854 by the Indian trader, Joseph Deroin. In 1861 it even had a post office and was an important steamboat landing place on the Missouri River. When the railroad missed St. Deroin, it was abandoned in 1920.

In Sheridan County on Highway 2, stand the remains of a once thriving town known as Antioch. It is about fifteen miles east of Alliance. Antioch was established to mine potash during World War II. At one time there were over 2,000 people living there. As the demand for potash ceased, the town faded. It is estimated that less then 25 people live there today.

A town called Tate was located in Pawnee County. It was founded in 1891 and discontinued in 1920. When the railroad stopped coming through, the town declined. Two buildings remain ... the old hotel and an old house.

Hecla was more like a whistle stop on the railroad in Grant County. Its claim to fame is that the largest cattle drive in the sandhills of Nebraska took place there. The event took 17 hours and several trains to load about 5,000 head of steers. A few fountains can be spotted where Hecla once stood.

As you are reading census and old records, keep in mind that your ancestors may not have lived in the city, but in a village that is no longer there.

Genealogy Trails - Nebraska

2011-07-15T12:45:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of great web pages on Internet. One of the oldest that genealogists have used for many years is USGenWeb. Newer is Genealogy Trails History Group. It is somewhat similar to USGenWeb's format, by state and county and projects.

Before moving on to the link for Nebraska, be sure you check out the various general indexes on the home page. These include military records, Presidents, slavery and African-American data, historical events, historical data, Native American data and miscellaneous data.

Once you are at the Nebraska Genealogy and History web page in Genealogy Trails, you can click on any of the 93 counties in the state. Each county has a different webmaster and thus different databases and links. They can be anything from cemeteries, marriages, census, biographies, obituaries to military records.

Now go exploring at Genealogy Trails History Group ... have some genealogy fun!

The Civil War Conference

2011-06-29T07:31:00.003-05:00

Celebrate the nation's independence on the 4th of July, then come to Alliance, Nebraska to learn about the Civil War on July 8th and 9th. "Remembering the Civil War" ... 150 years later will consist of 17 presentations over two days. There will be classes, lectures, portrayals and demonstrations.

This great conference will be held at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone Ave., Alliance, NE; 308-762-2384; museum@cityofalliance.net. The state of the art museum is great in itself for a self-guided tour, but once we bring the Civil War to it ... the action begins.

You can obtain a full brochure of the conference by contacting clchopkins@gmail.com.

See y'all in Alliance!

Genealogists Can Learn New Tricks

2011-06-11T08:22:00.003-05:00

To prove that genealogists can learn new tricks, a great series of summer lectures is being presented by the Family History Expo. It starts off in my home town of North Platte, NE on Thursday, June 16th.

The theme of the Expo is Where Ol' Dogs Learn New Tricks! It is being held at the Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd., North Platte, NE; reservations 888-562-9500. The Expo begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 9:30 p.m.

Speakers at the Expo as very knowledgeable genealogists and will talk on everything from evaluation of documents to basic sources and finding wills and probate records. A complete list of activities can be found on the Family History Expo website. In addition there will be vendors ... and who doesn't love browsing exhibit halls?

The early bird registration has expired, but you still have time to get a discount if you register before June 15th. You can also register at the door for a higher price. People attending will receive a CD of the syllabus.

Hurry on over to the Family History Expo website to learn more and register. Or you can phone in your registration by calling 801-829-3295. See ya' all there!

Hitin' the Trail to Utah

2011-05-12T08:01:00.000-05:00

While there is research to be done right here in Nebraska, there is more to be done at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. My sister-in-law and I are leaving for two weeks in the "genealogy city." I will be gone over three weeks.

Shortly after returning home, I will be presenting lectures at the Family History Expo to be held here in North Platte, Nebraska on Thursday, June 16th. This is a great opportunity for genealogists in the area to participate in a top-notch conference.

If you want to keep up with what is happening while we are in Salt Lake City, read the blog You Go Genealogy Girls. Stay turned for more!

Nebraska Book

2011-05-05T18:32:00.003-05:00

A year in the planning, my new book, Genealogical Research in Nebraska, has been published by Family Roots Publishing Co. I wrote the book with genealogists in mind ... genealogists with ancestors or relatives who may have settled in Nebraska.

There are many repositories in Nebraska and unique records. The book contains information on the types of records and where to locate them. The following are chapters in the book:

Introduction
Nebraska Settlement
Colonization and Development by Railroad
Nebraska Court System and Records
Nebraska Vital Records
Probate, Guardianships and Adoptions
Land Records
Naturalization Records
Civil and Criminal Court Records
County Histories
Territorial, Federal and State Censuses
Military Records
Schools and Records
Cemeteries
Institutional Records
Nebraska Railroads
Nebraska Ethnic Groups
Religious Records
Orphan Trains
Cattle Brands
Societies, Repositories and Libraries
Genealogical Collections in Nebraska Libraries and Repositories
Nebraska State Censuses & Substitutes 1854-1976
Maps Showing Nebraska County Boundary Changes
Nebraska County Records – Alphabetical by county
Suggested Internet Web Pages
Suggested Reading
Notes

Just in time for spring and summer research, the book can be ordered at Family Roots Publishing Co. It will also be available throughout the year at genealogy conferences where Family Roots Publishing Co. is a vendor.

The Family History Expo Comes to Nebraska

2011-04-30T07:37:00.004-05:00

The Family History Expo is coming to Nebraska to Thursday, June 16th. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd. in North Platte. Registration begins at 4 p.m. and sessions go until 8:50 p.m.

Because it is also Nebraskaland Days that week in North Platte, room reservations are at a premium. The Holiday Inn Express can be reached toll free at 888-562-9500. Some of the North Platte hotels/motels can also be found online at Nebraska Hotels or call the North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau at 308-532-4729.

Between now and May 31st you can take advantage of an early bird registration of $45 for the entire event. From May 31st to June 15th online registration is $55 and on the day of the event it is $60 at the door. There will be a dinner at 6:20 with "Ask-the-Pros Panel" costing $20. Attendees will receive a CD syllabus or can purchase a printed one in book format for $25. Register online at the Family History Expo web page.

There will be demonstrations at the event along with several vendors and the awarding of prizes. The following are the speakers and their topics:

Arlene H. Eakle -- Basic Sources: 1775-1815 and Document Your Common Ancestors in Congressional Records

Leland Meitzler - Blogs for Reading, Writing and Research and Flames Over the Courthouse

Billy Edgington - Finding Wills and Probate Records and Military Records

Ruby Coleman - When the Census Taker Came, Grandpa Was in the Outhouse and Motivation, Evaluation, Action

Holly T. Hansen - Charting for Success

From this event, the Family History Expo travels to Rapid City, South Dakota where it will be held on on Saturday, June 18th and then to Sheridan, Wyoming on Tuesday, June 21st. This will culminate at their large two day Expo at Loveland, Colorado on Friday and Saturday June 24th and 25th.

Whether it is one day or two days of genealogical learning, experiences and sharing, the Family History Expo is worth attending. The speakers are friendly and people become one, big happy family of genealogists. I don't know a better way to have summer fun than to attend a Family History Expo!

See ya in North Platte!

Nebraska's Part in the Civil War

2011-04-12T12:22:00.004-05:00

It was today, April 12th, 150 years ago, that the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter. The territory known as Nebraska was a long ways from those shots, but yet the creation of the territories of Nebraska and Kansas led to the eventual Civil War. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories for the expansion of the railroad across the continent. In so doing the settlers were allowed to decide whether slavery should be allowed. The struggle between factions in the Kansas Territory was not apparent in the Nebraska Territory. In 1861 slavery was officially prohibited in the Nebraska Territory.

Nebraska men rallied to the cause and fought in the Union Army. Approximately 3,000 served with many giving their lives on the battleground or from disease.

By the summer of 1861 the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry mustered 1,000 men into service at Omaha. They joined General Grant's campaign in western Tennessee and many were involved in the Battle of Shiloh. The First Nebraska returned to the territory in 1864 and was stationed at Fort Kearny. They provided protection to road ranches and travelers along the Platte Valley.

The Nebraska Battalion, comprised of four companies of Nebraska cavalrymen, joined troops from Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa to form what eventually became known as the 5th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry.

Even though slavery was prohibited in the Nebraska Territory, there were southern sympathizers living there. The population was largely along the Missouri River and close to Kansas and Missouri. Political views were not always in favor of war or the freeing of slaves.

Nebraska was the first to be granted statehood after the Civil War ... on 1 March 1867.

There are many Civil War web sites and the following are recommended for Nebraska genealogical researchers:

The Civil War Archive - Union Regimental Index - Nebraska

Nebraska Civil War Veterans Database (Nebraska State Historical Society)

Civil War Veterans Museum - Nebraska City, Nebraska

Civil War Rosters - Nebraska

Nebraska Civil War Veterans

Civil War Conference in Nebraska

2011-04-07T09:45:00.006-05:00

Mark your calendars for the "Remembering the Civil War ... 150 Years Later" conference to be held on July 8th and 9th at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance, Nebraska. There are many excellent lectures, along with lunch and programs and demonstrations. In addition there will be vendors.

First Day - July 8th

"The First Nebraska Regiment in the Civil War" - James Potter

"Civil War Research" - Ruby Coleman

"Mary's Sons, the Buchanan Brothers" - lunch program by Cheri Hopkins

"Genealogy and the GAR" - David Wells

"Fight or Flight: Quantrill and the Kansas Raiders" - Jason Hopkins

"Petticoats and Trousers: Women in the Civil War" - Ruby Coleman

"Adopt a Soldier Program" - Becci Thomas

"Quilts and Quilt Makers of the Civil War" - Susan Weber

"The Origins and Legacy of Memorial Day" - Nebraska Humanities Program by David Wells

Second Day - July 9th

"Land for Soldiers ... the Homestead Act" - Ruby Coleman

"Abraham Lincoln: the Emancipator, the Martyr, the Dictator?" - David Wells

"Antique Photos and Cherished Reflections" - Cheri Hopkins

"Recitation of the Gettysburg Address" - lunch program by Wally Seiler

"Quilts and Quilt Makers of the Civil War" - Susan Weber

"Firearms and Accoutrements of the Common Civil War Soldier" - Guy Hielscher

"A Southern Woman in the Civil War" - Maurine Roller - character portrayal

"From Bleeding Kansas to Old Virginny!" - Nebraska Humanities Program by Dr. Daniel Holtz

The speakers share a passion for history and genealogy. James E. Potter is the Senior Research Historian and Associate Editor at the Nebraska State Historical Society. Ruby Coleman (that's me!) is a professional genealogist, instructor, lecturer and free lance writer. Dr. Daniel Holtz is a professor of English at Peru State College. He is First Vice President of the Nebraska State Historical Society Board of Trustees. Jason R. Hopkins is an independent scholar who lives in Topeka, Kansas, studying History, Philosophy and Religious Studies at Washburn University. Susan Weber is a fourth generation quilter and is currently the President of the Nebraska State Quilt Guild. Wally A. Seiler is an independent scholar who is well known for his character performances of Mark Twain. Maurine Roller is a member of the Nebraska Humanities Speakers Bureau, has a master's degree in history and women's history. She does character portrayals. Guy Hielscher is an expert in the field of historical firearms and a student of firearms and their uses. Becci Thomas is the director of the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance, Nebraska. Cheri Hopkins is a life long student of history and specializes in photo restoration and designing family remembrance art as well as doing genealogical research.

The deadline for registering for this conference is June 24th. The fee is $45 for both days or $30 for individual days. Pre-registration includes lunch served each day at the museum. If you elect to register at the door, it is $55 for both days or $30 for a single day, with no lunches included. More information can be obtained by contacting the museum at 308-762-2384 or museum@cityofalliance.net. The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center is located at 908 Yellowstone Ave., Alliance, Nebraska.

You won't want to miss this conference. Celebrate the Civil War right here in Nebraska! Be sure to download the brochure.

Historical Maps of Nebraska

2011-03-22T07:53:00.005-05:00

The Hall County, Nebraska web site now has historical maps of Nebraska dating 1850-1901. They were scanned from atlases published between those dates. The maps have been retouched. They are colorful and informative!

Maps are online in PDF format in "Low Res" and "High Res." Of course, the "High Res" files are going to take longer to download, but the quality is much better. They can all be saved to your computer for future reference.

Originals maps are in the collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln, NE and the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer at Grand Island, NE.

By using the maps you will have a good understanding about the early formation dates of the territory and state ... NEBRASKA.

Genealogy in Cuming County, NE

2011-03-10T16:42:00.003-06:00

The John A. Stahl Library is located at 330 North Colfax Street in West Point, NE. Genealogists will enjoy the Leila Stahl Buffet Genealogy Center in the library. It was opened in the fall of 1997 and continues to expand and grow. The following are the hours you can use the center:

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Closed Sunday and holidays

Located in Cuming Co., Nebraska, the genealogy center focuses on that area. They have a computer and microfilm reader. Their microfilm consists of early court records, naturalizations, marriages 1900-1920, school enrollment records and county census 1860 to 1920. The following are newspapers on microfilm:

Bancroft newspaper 1892-1923

Wisner newspaper 1892-1952

West Point newspapers 1871 to present

Beemer newspaper 1886-1922

Nebraska "Volksblatt" newspaper (in German) 1879-1916

In addition they have church records, cemetery records, book and maps in their collection.

The Elkhorn Valley Genealogical Society meets in the library meeting room on the third Monday of the month, September through June (except December) at 7 p.m.

If you are researching in that part of Nebraska, consider a visit to the library or perhaps becoming a member of the society.

Nebraska Cemeteries Online

2011-02-27T09:57:00.004-06:00

There are many ways to locate Nebraska cemetery records on the Internet ... everything from Google to the USGenWeb pages to the tombstone project of the Nebraska State Genealogical Society. Here is just a sampling of what you can find on Internet.

Wyuka Cemetery at 3600 O Street in Lincoln was established by an act of the Nebraska Legislature in 1869. The original three acres east of the city is now within the city of Lincoln and no longer a "rural cemetery." The cemetery was patterned after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts. Wyuka Cemetery now encompasses over 140 acres between O Street and north to Vine Street in Lincoln. They have an excellent searchable database for burial records.

Forest Lawn Cemetery at 7909 Mormon Bridge Road in Omaha has a searchable database which is a work in progress. They have almost 90,000 records on file. The Forest Lawn Cemetery Association was organized under the laws of Nebraska on 13 May 1885.

The cemetery at Kearney is located at 4440 Avenue I. They have a searchable database that is easy to access. They also have a detailed map for locating burial sites.

The North Platte Cemetery, located on West Rodeo Road, was established in 1872. Their record database is continually updated.

In Buffalo County, the Ravenna cemeteries of Highland, Mt. Calvary and Highland Park have online databases.

There are more databases of Nebraska cemeteries online. Just start exploring!

Busy Genealogists in Otoe Co., Nebraska

2011-02-17T17:42:00.003-06:00

The Otoe County Genealogical Society at Syracuse, Nebraska is busy in the next few months with genealogy meetings and a conference. The county was one of the first established in Nebraska Territory and is home to Arbor Lodge. Members of the society are actively engaged in preserving the heritage of their area and state.

They will host their 10 March 2011 meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Morton-James Public Library, 923 First Corso, Nebraska City. There will be a genealogy workshop in both the media center and genealogy reference room at the library. The themes are "Researching Your Civil War Ancestors" and "Breaking Through Your Genealogy Brick Walls."

The 34th Annual Nebraska State Genealogical Society Conference will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1023 1st Ave. in Nebraska City. The Otoe County Genealogical Society will host the event which will be held May 6-7, 2011. The main speaker for the event will be Gail Blankenau. She is a genealogist and photo historian and has written for the New England Historical and Genealogical Society Register, The Genealogical Helper and Family Chronicle.

Be sure to mark your calendar for these southeastern Nebraska genealogy events.

Civil War Conference in Nebraska

2011-02-05T13:16:00.003-06:00

On April 28-30, 2011, a Civil War conference will be held at Fort Robinson State Park, 3 miles west of Crawford, Nebraska. "The Civil War in the American West" is the eighth Fort Robinson History Conference. It is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The conference will explore ways the Civil War affected the history of Nebraska and the American West. Papers by scholars of the military and political history of the Civil War will be presented. They will also conduct a bus tour taking conferees to the site of Fort Mitchell and Mud Springs Station. The 4th U.S. Artillery Regimental Brass Band will present a concert of Civil War-era music.

Scheduled presenters and their topics include:

Dr. Douglas D. Scott -- "The Battle of Mud Springs, Nebraska, February 1865"

Dr. Richard W. Etulain -- "Abraham Lincoln and the American West"

Dr. Douglas W. Owsley -- "Forensic Investigation of the Civil War Casualties"

Dr. Michele Butts -- "The Galvanized Yankees"

John D. McDermott -- "The 1865 Powder River Expedition"

James E. Potter -- "Horses: The Army's Achilles Heel in the Indian War of 1864-65"

Randy Kane -- "Soldiers at Fort Union"

Dr. Mark Van de Logt -- "The Pawnee Scouts"

To request conference registration information when available e-mail lana.hatcher@nebraska.gov or call 402-471-3272.

PAF-LUG Blog

2011-01-31T14:15:00.003-06:00

There are many people who use the Personal Ancestral File (PAF) software. Even if you do not use PAF, be sure you check out the PAF-LUG blog. That stands for Personal Ancestral File-Lincoln (NE) Users Group. The blog is maintained by Howard Camp.

A couple weeks ago he posted "IGI-Past-Present-Future" to the blog. This is a compilation of links to the Ancestry Insider blog which explains the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and where it went. If you use the IGI, be sure to read these blogs.

There are blogs about better ways to cite genealogy sources and the changes at FamilySearch.org. Camp has been writing the blog since 2004 so be sure you check the archives.

If you are in Lincoln, NE or visiting, visit the Family History Center. It is located in the church building at 3000 Old Cheney Road. The phone is 402-423-4561. Unless the hours have recently changed, they are normally ...

Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It is always a good idea to call or e-mail, lincolnfhc@gmail.com, ahead to make sure they are open.

Learning about Nebraska

2011-01-24T15:30:00.004-06:00

The area now known as Nebraska was acquired by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It became a natural corridor for migration to the west, much of which began in about 1841. This corridor followed the Platte River and would eventually link the settlement of the continent from ocean to ocean.

Settlements prior to the Civil War were in the eastern part of the territory, along the Missouri River and close to forts in the territory. The road west was not easy. There were births and deaths to contend with, all of which have led to myths perpetuated in family lore.

Diseases and environmental changes were more detrimental than Indian attacks, particularly in the Nebraska Territory. Cholera followed the Platte River road. The burials were speedy and without tombstones. If anything, there may have been a piece of wood to mark the spot. Very few graves have been located and identified.

Information on the early pioneers can be found in letters, diaries, journals, newspapers, military fort records and territorial census. It is worthwhile to check the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC). This does not link to the originals, but provides information as to where they are located. A good book to read about Nebraska is The Great Platte River Road by Merrill J. Mattes.

Traffic through Nebraska ran both ways. Many people and families returned through this area, some stayed and left descendants. If you have lost an ancestor who journeyed through here, check out later census and land records for Nebraska to see if they returned.

Trail era research is not impossible ... it's just challenging.

Civil War Veterans Museum

2011-01-16T11:23:00.003-06:00

After the Civil War there were more than 100 Grand Army of the Republic Halls in the state of Nebraska. There are only four that remain today. The one in Nebraska City was built in 1894. It has been restored and is now a Civil War Veterans Museum and GAR Memorial Hall.

The museum is located at 910 First Corso, Nebraska City, NE 68410, across from the library. Their phone is 402-873-4018; e-mail timengel@windstream.net.

The museum is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Arbor Day (last weekend in April) through the end of October. Their hours are noon to 4 p.m. with free admission on Fridays to persons living in the zip code area of 68410.

Members of the Nebraska GAR Posts were from many states. They had served in the Union Army during the War. A detailed account of the History of Nebraska's GAR Posts provides information on the formation of each post, along with dates they closed, when and where they met, the first charter member and the last member.

If your Civil War ancestor died in Nebraska, be sure to check out Burials in Nebraska of Civil War Veterans. The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War beings this year. Make this museum a highlight of your summer travels in Nebraska.

Lue Spencer DAR Library

2011-01-01T10:12:00.003-06:00

Years ago when I was beginning my genealogical research, I used the Lue Spencer DAR Library. At that time it was located in the basement of the public library in Alliance, Nebraska. In time it was moved to the Edith Abbott Memorial Library in Grand Island, Nebraska.

The collection does not pertain just to Nebraska. There are numerous books pertaining to other areas, as well as bound collections of excellent periodicals. You will also find the Sprague Collection in the library. Both of these will keep genealogists busy for hours.

Grand Island's library has old city directories, early newspapers, Hall County census records and a city cemetery book which is updated periodically. They have the "Grand Island Daily Independent" on microfilm. There are three microfilm readers available. If you are unable to search in person, a volunteer will copy requests such as obituaries, weddings, birth and death announcements with an exact date. They request postage and copy fees. Available within the library are the online databases, Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest.

Information about the library:

211 North Washington Street

308-385-5333

School year hours:

Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm (after Labor Day)

Mon-Thurs 9:30 am to 9 pm

Fri-Sat 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Summer hours:

Sunday closed

Mon-Thurs 9:30 am to 7:30 pm

Fri-Sat 9:30 am to 5 pm

Add this library to your genealogy research list. It is worth the trip!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-14T09:39:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas from Nebraska

In my part of the state we are having mostly dry weather, cold mornings and warmer days. Will we make it until the end of 2010 without a blast of winter? For those traveling I hope this weather continues until 2011.

My wishes for you at Christmas time are good times, blessings of the season and good luck in genealogical research now and into 2011.

Ruby Coleman ... a Nebraskan by choice and a South Dakotan by birth!

A Home for Soldiers and Sailors

2010-12-03T09:48:00.003-06:00

In the late 19th century there were two homes established in Nebraska where soldiers and sailors could live, receive care and support. The Nebraska Soldiers and Sailors Home, aka Burkett, at Grand Island was established in 1888 and is still currently in use. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Milford was established in 1895 and existed until 1939. The Milford home is now the location of the Southeast Community College.

Veterans were eligible for admittance if they were honorably discharged. They also had to be disabled and without support or unable to earn a living. Veterans had to have served in the regular, volunteer or militia forces mustered into federal service. After World War II most homes were converted to veteran hospitals. Many also provided assistance and housing for widows and orphans.

The Prairie Pioneer Genealogical Society of Grand Island, Nebraska has included the cemetery records for the Grand Island Soldiers and Sailors Cemetery in Volume 2 of their published cemetery records. The book is available at various Nebraska and also in book form and on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The NEGenWeb project for Hall Co., Nebraska also has a listing of burials in the cemetery. In 1915 Vantine's 1915 Directory of Grand Island included a listing of those in the Nebraska Soldiers and Sailors Home. This also is found at the Hall County NEGenWeb site. The Index of Milford Cemeteries is useful in locating veterans who lived in the home at Milford and are buried there.

It is a good idea to extend your research of veterans to these areas. Some veterans remained in the homes until their death and others were removed to other areas.

Nebraska and World War I

2010-11-10T09:45:00.004-06:00

The Great World War (World War I) began in August of 1914, but the United States did not enter the conflict until 6 April 1917. The Armistice was signed in 1918 at the eleventh hour, eleventh day of the eleventh month. Thus, we celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11th.

While the war did not last as long as many others, there were still American who were involved in the war including Nebraskans. There was nothing great about the Great World War which has been followed by many other wars and conflicts. Soldiers lost their lives, were dismembered or came home suffering from gas poisoning.

The Nebraska History & Record of Pioneer Days Volume II No. I (part 2) contains a listing of Nebraska's Dead during World War I. It can easily be searched online. The facts are also there. There were 349 killed in action; 207 died of disease; 160 died of wounds; 19 reported dead in an accident; 16 reported dead. This makes a total of 751 soldiers from Nebraska.

Nebraska Alumni Killed in WWI as taken from The Cornhusker, 1919, Vol. 13, University of Nebraska is also online. This contains a list of names with links to further information and photographs.

There are draft registration cards available on such in such places as Ancestry.com. However, you will also find draft lists published in newspapers or draft cards for Nebraskans at Nebraskans in the Great World War (WWI).

If your ancestor survived World War I, he may be shown on the 1930 U.S. Census with WW in one of the boxes. Keep in mind that men registered but never served.

Omaha Fall Workshop

2010-10-18T18:21:00.003-05:00

The Greater Omaha Genealogical Society (GOGS) will be conducting a fall genealogy workshop on Saturday, October 30th at the Nebraska Methodist College, 720 N. 87th St. in Omaha, Nebraska. The workshop begins at 9:15 a.m.. If you register before October 20th it is $30 for non-members and $20 for GOGS members. After that date or if you walk-in it is $40 for non members and $30 for GOGS members. An interesting slate of programs will fill the day.

Land Records - presented by Lynne A. Farr, PhD. and Emeritus Professor, College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Oral Histories by storyteller Lucille Saunders

Organizing Your Files by Cyndy Salzmann

What You Can Do With a Digital Camera by Jeff Ramsell of Rockbrook Camera in Omaha

If interested in the workshop, contact Merrily Staats of the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, 4617 N. 93rd Street, Omaha, NE 689134 or e-mail gogsworkshop@radiks.net.

Family History in Alliance NE

2010-10-11T08:34:00.006-05:00

In celebration of Family History Month, the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center's Heritage Room will have volunteers available to help visitors each Tuesday in October from 1 to 5 p.m. The Heritage Room is a great place to begin your research if you are interested in Alliance, NE, Box Butte County or even the panhandle of Nebraska. The museum is located at 908 Yellowstone Ave. in Alliance.

From 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 28th the museum will provide table space for people to bring and share their family treasures, memorabilia, old photographs and genealogy items. It will be interesting to see all of the items that spell out family and genealogy! The entry area of the museum already contains memorabilia and signs about the events.

At 7 p.m. Ruby Coleman (that's me!) will be speaking about "The Sisters Next Door." Actually the title of my speech is "Writing About Ancestors, Neighbors, Friends and Murderers." Focus will be placed on a recent article that I wrote for Internet Genealogy which pertains to the unique and mysterious story about two former residents of Alliance, NE.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about genealogy and share in what can be accomplished, how to research and have a lot laughs and fun the evening of October 28th.

Nebraska Event News

2010-09-18T17:21:00.005-05:00

Mark your calendars for a genealogy event in October, which is Family History Month. You will enjoy attending!

The North Platte Genealogical Society will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 16th in the North Platte Public Library, 120 West 4th Street, North Platte, NE. The event will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us in the genealogy collection on the second floor of the library for informative guidance through the books at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. "Begin Your Genealogy" will be presented by Ruby Coleman in the meeting room at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. In addition, there will be genealogy displays in the meeting room. The North Platte Genealogical Society will be serving cookies, coffee and tea.

A Good Friend and a Genealogy Friend

2010-09-07T15:24:00.003-05:00

While I have many genealogy friends, Charlene was a special genealogy friend. There was nobody quite like her. From the first time I met her, I knew that she was a determined genealogist, zealous to not only discovering her own ancestry, but that of others. I first met Charlene about thirty years ago.

Charlene became interested in answering queries about people who had lived in Lincoln Co., Nebraska. She was active in the North Platte (NE) Genealogical Society and until her health began to fail she was johnny-on-the-spot to help with projects and never missed a meeting. Charlene amassed a great collection of information and documents on the history and genealogy of Lincoln County. If somebody had a question, they asked Charlene. She spent a good deal of time over the last few years researching historical characters for the cemetery tours. Most recently she had helped with information on the Civil War soldiers buried in the North Platte Cemetery.

She was born 25 September 1932 to Clyde and Gladys Nation Graham in North Platte and passed away on 5 September 2010 here in North Platte. She leaves children and grandchildren, great grandchildren and other relatives. In addition, Charlene leaves a void in our genealogy society and the hearts of all of us. We'll miss you Chod!

Civil War Weekend

2010-09-02T07:45:00.005-05:00

In conjunction with Rail Fest in North Platte, NE, there will be Civil War activities. The theme for 2010 cemetery tour is Civil War Treasures Cemetery Tour, sponsored by the North Platte Public Library Foundation. In addition there will be a Civil War Re-Enactment and Demonstrations. What a fun filled weekend this will be! Tickets can be purchased at the North Platte Public Library, 4th & Vine in North Platte. They are $10 for adults 16 and older; children free with accompanying adult ticket purchase. At the event they are $15 for adults 16 and older; children free with accompanying adult ticket purchase. These are the events:

Thursday - September 16, 2010 7 to 9 p.m. Non-walking tour presentation

North Platte Community College, south campus on State Farm Road

Sunday - September 19, 2010 1 to 5 p.m. Walking Tour at North Platte Cemetery

Rodeo Road

Saturday - September 18, 2010 1 to 5 p.m. Civil War Re-Enactment and Demonstrations

Gettysburg, The First Day

Lincoln County Historical Museum, 2403 N. Buffalo Bill Ave.

ticket to cemetery tour gets free admission to the re-enactment

Come to North Platte for a glimpse of the Civil War past! It should be a fun filled weekend.

The Lives of Our Ancestors

2010-08-17T13:40:00.004-05:00

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society and the Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE will be presenting a full day genealogy program on Saturday, 9 October 210. This is in celebration of Family History Month and features noted speaker John Philip Colletta, PhD. He lives in Washington, DC where for twenty years he had conducted workshops for the National Archives and taught courses for Smithsonian Institution. Colletta lectures nationally and is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy, Historical Research at Samford University and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Colletta's topics include Assembling and Writing a Narrative Family History; Turning Biographical Facts into Real-Life Events: Building Historical Context; Our Spectacular Library of Congress: An overview with Research Examples; Understanding Archives: What They Are and How to Use Them.

In addition to the featured speaker there will a unique music recital and lecture on Woody Guthrie's place in the history of American folk music. This will be presented by Nebraska Humanities Scholars, Mike Adams and Professor Kathryn Benzel.

Make plans now to attend The Lives of Our Ancestors. It will be held at the SCC Continuing Education Center, 301 S. 68th St. Place, Lincoln, NE from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 9th; cost $50. Check in begins at 8:30 a.m. The tuition includes conference materials and lunch. Deadline for enrollment is October 1st.

Nebraska Family Maps

2010-07-29T14:21:00.003-05:00

Some of the best book of maps, known as Family Maps, are published by Arphax Publishing of Norman, Oklahoma. The books are available for many states, including Nebraska. The counties available for Nebraska are Arthur, Blaine, Garden, Garfield, Grant, Hooker, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Scotts Bluff, Sioux and Thomas. The books are authored by Gregory A. Boyd.

The maps show the original settlers (first owners) who purchased the land. You will be able to see the exact location of the land, neighbors as well are cemeteries, rivers and streams.

Each book is available as hardbound, spiral-bound and most recently as paperback. There are links on the Arphax Publishing web page to a listing of surnames for each volume. From the web page you can also check out examples in PDF format.

The books are well worth the price, particularly if your ancestor was an original settler in the location.

Blogging about Nebraska

2010-07-19T12:40:00.002-05:00

If you enjoy reading blogs, you will want to read the Nebraska State Historical Society's blog, Nebraska History Blog. There are some very interesting links and You Tube connections on the blog.

Some of the July posts on the blog include Lincoln's Fatal Flood, July 6, 1908; Lazy Days of Summer; In Search of Lost Graves; From I-Scream to Eskimo Pie and "Judge Lynch" in Nebraska.

Did you know that the Eskimo Pie was invented by a man from Nebraska? Christian K. Nelson was a graduate of the University of Nebraska and former Thedford, Nebraska schoolteacher. In 1921 he developed that yummy vanilla ice cream and chocolate dessert. It was originally called the I-Scream Bar and a year later renamed Eskimo Pie. Next time you eat an Eskimo Pie, think of Nebraska!

Have fun following this excellent blog about Nebraska.

Cradle Days in York County

2010-07-11T21:29:00.003-05:00

In November of 1937 a book was published containing historical sketches of York Co., Nebraska. It was published by The York Republican newspaper and reprinted in 1976 by the York County Historical Association. The book has long been out of print.

My father, who lived in York County, often referred to the book and I am sure read and reread it many times. It is now on my bookshelf. However, if you are less fortunate to have the book in your possession, you will be able to read it online at York County, Nebraska ... a chronicle of its people and communities.

It is full of stories about early settlers and pioneers. Some of the chapter titles include "Stalwart Pioneers from Wisconsin", "Grasshoppers, Frogs and Cyclones", and "Early Days on Lincoln Creek."

The book is a good read!

Researching in Washington Co., Nebraska

2010-07-03T15:54:00.004-05:00

The first settlements in the Nebraska Territory were along the Missouri River, the east border of what would, in 1867, become the state of Nebraska. Therefore, if you have ancestors who were in Nebraska early, begin looking at that area along the Missouri River.

Washington County, which is along the Missouri River, was an original county formed in 1854. It was one of the eight original counties proclaimed by acting Governor Thomas B. Cuming. Over time there were three different county seats ... Fort Calhoun, DeSoto and finally Blair which is the current county seat.

To study more about the history of Washington County, I suggest checking out the Washington County Historical Association's web page. You will find links and a good deal of information. Perhaps a trip to their museum should be put on your schedule.

There are some useful web pages on Internet that pertain to genealogical research in Washington County. Be sure to check out the Genealogy Trails History Group for Washington County. You will find online data, such as marriages for 1856-1898 and the 1927 school souvenir book.

The Washington County Genealogical Society's web page has useful maps and information on townships plus cemeteries. They also have suggestions for furthering your research and joining their society.

Be sure to visit the web page of the Blair Public Library. If you are visiting the area, they have local and family histories, cemetery records, death and marriage information, plus the Blair newspaper on microfilm.

At home on your computer, you can search the Blair City Cemetery Burials. You can also search the entire county for burials. The Washington County Genealogical Society link has an excellent map and listing of the cemeteries.

There is much more, so start snooping through Washington County and see what you can find. Have fun!

Research - Sidney, Nebraska

2010-06-23T12:47:00.004-05:00

Traveling in Nebraska this summer? You should visit the Sidney Public Library if you are in western Nebraska. Located at 1112 12th Avenue in Sidney, the library's summer hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day are Monday-Thursday 9 am to 6:30 pm and Friday, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm.

The library houses the extensive genealogical collection of the Cheyenne County Genealogical Society. They also have microfilm of the Sidney Sun and Telegraph newspapers from 1873 to the present.

The history of Sidney and the surrounding area is interesting. The area was a passage way for many major trails west, such as the California-Oregon Trail, Overland Trail and the Sidney-Deadwood Trail. Sidney was a major outfitting stop when gold was discovered in the Black Hills. It became a division point for the Union Pacific Continental Railroad in 1867. This resulted in the establishment of Fort Sidney which was a working fort from 1867 to 1894. It is estimated that in 1876 and 1877, 1,500 people arrived and departed Sidney daily going to the Black Hills. Many brushed elbows with famous people such as Wild Bill Hickok, Butch Cassidy, Sam Bass and Calamity Jane.

Begin your search in the Sidney Public Library, explore Sidney and have fun with the history of western Nebraska.

Nebraska Maps

2010-06-12T20:35:00.003-05:00

Old and new maps enhance genealogical research. Who doesn't like maps? If you are researching in Nebraska, be sure to check out the map collection at the University of Texas at Austin online.

They are in JPG or PDF format. The collection also contains a Lincoln 1901 map, Nebraska City 1920 map and one for Omaha in 1920. It is interesting to see how small Omaha was in 1920.

There are many maps available at the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) Map Library. These include county maps and historical maps. Some are large, so be prepared for the time they may take in downloading.

Links to Nebraska maps, some plat and township maps, can be found at NebraskAccess. Some of these are in the early part of the 1900s.

Have fun locating Nebraska maps on Internet. They will add interest to your genealogical research!

Pioneer Women of Nebraska

2010-05-14T18:53:00.003-05:00

People researching Nebraska history and genealogy often marvel at the survival and stamina of pioneer women. I prefer to call them prairie mothers. Fortunately there are diaries and journals that these enduring women left for posterity.

Emma Slocum's great grandson, David L. Runner, has transcribed her dairy. She was born 18 October 1868 in Green Co., WI. In the early 1880s her family moved to Boone Co., NE, settling on a farm near Petersburg. At age 18 Emma began keeping a diary which reveals school life, friends, neighbors and also sad events, such as the death of her father in January of 1888. In November of that year, Emma, her mother and some of her brothers left Nebraska and moved to Marion Co., OR.

In 1915, Mrs. Anna Knox wrote of her pioneering adventures for The Lincoln Star newspaper. She was 90 years old, living with a daughter in Hastings. However, her accounts pertain to pioneer days near Nebraska City. She tells about hard times, with her own kind of spirit and optimism.

These are only two such publications on Internet. Books have been written about women's journals and diaries. Keep looking, you might even find one written by your ancestor!

Nebraska Mailing Lists

2010-05-07T11:11:00.003-05:00

Mailing lists are a great way to communicate about common interests, such as a specific county in Nebraska. If you are researching in Nebraska, consider joining one or more of the lists.

Each mailing list has its own rules. Be sure to read them thoroughly before you subscribe. You can subscribe to have messages delivered individually to your e-mail box or by digest where they are grouped together. If the mailing list is very active, consider joining in the digest format. Before subscribing to a list you can search or browse the archives. Information you need may already be in the archives. Be sure your posts pertain to the county and not some other state or county.

Check out the Nebraska Mailing Lists by county and also topics, such as cemeteries, Czechs, census look-ups and more. It's fun and eventually you may have a good deal of information in your e-mail box.

Nebraska at WorldCat

2010-04-23T15:37:00.005-05:00

Genealogists need and want books, but many times they don't go the distance in finding them. Of course, there's Google Books and other sites on Internet that are helpful. However, if you directly to the Nebraska listing on WorldCat, you'll be pleased at what turns up.

There are about 759 results. Some are journals, periodicals, books and even CDs. There are general Nebraska records, family genealogies, census and records by counties.

Click on the item of interest to learn more, such as the author, number of pages and printing. If you enter your zip code and click "Find Libraries," you will be taken to a list of libraries that have the item. Some may be close to home, but if not, supply your librarian with the information and see if it can be obtained on interlibrary loan.

An example of a family history is Recollections and Connections: from Ohio to Nebraska by Louise Mathews Harris, published in 2006. Under the details section I see that it pertains to the Mathews family. The only place WorldCat has located it is at the Seo Automation Consortium in Caldwell, OH. Click on that and you'll learn more about their digital catalog and download center.

The Valley View Cemetery: Holt County, Nebraska compiled by Stanley Lambert and Joyce Taylor is listed. If this interests you, it is available in the Omaha Public Library. This may be a book that is not available on interlibrary loan. If this is the case, consider having your librarian secure specific pages from the index. Yes, it's indexed, as I saw that information under "Details."

It's time to have fun ... Nebraska fun ... with WorldCat.

Conference Time

2010-04-10T12:42:00.002-05:00

It is almost time for the Nebraska State Genealogical Society's 33rd Annual Conference which will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 23rd and 24th in Norfolk, NE. The location is the Holiday Inn Express, 920 South 20th Street in Norfolk.

The featured speaker is Paula Stuart-Warren, CG of Minnesota. She is very knowledgeable about genealogical research, particularly in this part of the United States. Her topics are:

The WPA Era: What it Created for Genealogists

The Three Rs: Reading, "Riting" and Research in School Records

Where are the Records they told me to check?

Finding Ancestral Places of Origin

Railroad Records and Railway History: Methods for Tracking

Organizing Your Genealogical Materials

Additional speakers are Russell Lang, Judy Carlson and Jeff Kappeler. There will even be a demonstration on "witching for graves."

Download a PDF file of the brochure as it is not too late to get registered for this excellent.

conference.

Nebraska Disasters

2010-03-27T11:14:00.003-05:00

In the course of your research, you may have found or heard about an ancestor being involved in some type of accident or disaster. Perhaps it was just a rumor or they may have lived to tell the story.

Nebraska/GenDisasters is a great web page for information on everything from train accidents to fires and tornadoes that occurred in this state. There are 27 pages of links to articles about disasters. Some of these include a tornado that was at Fort Kearny in June of 1859, the Omaha Dewey Hotel Fire in February 1913, a Lincoln, NE train wreck in August of 1894 and a collision of trains at Indianola in May of 1911. There is usually further information, sometimes news articles, names of people involved and photographs.

If you are interested in the history of Nebraska, this is also a great web site to check. The home page provides links to browse by disaster, states, years and more. Check it out!

Nebraska Free Lookups

2010-03-13T15:54:00.003-06:00

Ever wish you could access all kinds of records for Nebraska? There is hope if you spend some time checking out web pages and then preparing queries for lookups. Many of them are free just for the asking.

GenaSearch hosts Nebraska Free Genealogy Look Ups. The people performing these tasks are volunteers. They will check offline resources. Be sure you follow the directions.

Is there a book or information you need in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, but can't get there? FHC Angel Lookup Requests may be what you need. Volunteers will try to help!

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) is a well known site and has proven helpful to many genealogists. Be sure you read the guidelines for making requests. After reading that you will be directed to a listing of volunteers. Many counties in Nebraska have volunteer listings ... anything from public record lookups to photos of tombstones and more.

This is a great way to find information you need but cannot access at the time of your research. Good luck!

Nebraska State Historical Society Opening

2010-02-24T10:22:00.004-06:00

Mark your calendars! The Library and Archives portion of the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln, Nebraska will be opening on March 9th. This is great news for those of us who been without their resources for what seems like ten years. Actually it has been fourteen months of construction and renovation.

The regular hours for using the Library and Archives will apply. They are Tuesday-Friday 9 to noon and 1 to 4; Saturday 8 to 5. You will want to visit the Nebraska State Historical Society web page for more details. They have a new leaflet in PDF format which you can download and read before returning to do research in the newly renovated room.

The Nebraska State Historical Society is located at 1500 R Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is wise to also plan ahead for parking as it is on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There are parking garages not too far away and metered parking (if available) along R Street.

Nebraska Memories

2010-01-31T11:05:00.003-06:00

Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska historical and culture heritage materials. They are then made available on Internet. It is administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.

Currently there are over 3,500 digitized items with growth each month. There are eleven Nebraska institutions participating in the project. The materials generally range in date from the 1890s to the 1970s. Here you will find photographs, artifacts, papers, manuscripts, maps, audio files and documents. There are no actual genealogical resources. However, there is a significant amount of valuable resources that genealogists can apply to their research.

A search can be performed by specific collections or by all collections with a variety of words or combinations. You can also browse by all images, topics (such as railroads, portraits, towns and more), an entire collection or by location.

Make some time in your schedule to explore this extremely interesting and helpful web site. I hope you will find something of interest. Be sure to check back for new additions.

Nebraska Obituaries

2010-01-23T16:27:00.002-06:00

Locating obituaries or indexes to obituaries can be helpful, particularly if they are online. Columbus and Norfolk, Nebraska Historical Obituaries are indexed.

The Columbus (Platte County) obituaries are indexed from 1930-2006 from the "Columbus Telegram" newspaper. This is provided by the Platte Valley Kin Seekers of Columbus. They will research requests for a fee. Their charges are $5 for a copy of the newspaper obituary, which includes postage.

Norfolk (Dodge County) obituaries are indexed for a variety of years which are 1888-1918, 1940, 1944-1945, 1954, partial 1955-1956, 1957-1969, partial 1993-1994, partial 1997-1998. By using the index you can request a copy of the obituary from the Norfolk Public Library, 308 Prospect Ave., Norfolk, NE 68701. Their fee is $10 per obituary, with SASE.

Obituaries in both of these communities often pertain to people who lived close by the counties or community and those who had relatives in Columbus or Norfolk.

Omaha Genealogy Classes

2010-01-10T12:11:00.004-06:00

Genealogy classes will be held January through June 2010 at the Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State Street in Omaha, Nebraska. The classes will be held each third Saturday morning at 9:15 a.m. and are free. Here is the schedule:

January 16th - My History Through the Ages (discussion of getting started, records at home, how to record the data, importance of documentation)

February 20th - Vital Records for the Vital Events of our Lives and Substitutes for Vital Records (find those important birth, marriage and death dates and places)

March 20th - Making Sense of the Census (focus on the US census, others will be mentioned)

April 24th (note: 4th Saturday) - Searching the World's Records Without Leaving Omaha (resources of Family History Centers, FamilySearch labs and FamilySearch)

Part 2 - Googling Your Ancestors (finding ancestors on the web)

May 15h - What's Hiding at the Courthouse? (vital records, public records and more)

Part 2 - The Name Game (naming customs and patterns, nicknames)

June 19th - What's Black and White and Read All Over? (historic newspapers and where to find them)

Part 2 - Cemetery Research (discovering more than names and dates on tombstones)

If you wish to attend, you should get your name on the list by calling 402-706-1453 or emailing Genehelper@aol.com. Start 2010 off right by learning more about genealogical research!

Nebraska High School and College Yearbooks

2009-12-29T19:07:00.002-06:00

Looking for an old yearbook? You should check out Old-Yearbooks.com (Nebraska). They have a nice selection of links to high school and college yearbooks for Nebraska.

The selection is sporadic, but a good start. You never know what you will find, so be sure you check them out. Of course, for a subscription you can locate year books on Ancestry.com.

The colleges and universities on Old-Yearbooks.com consist of yearbooks of the University of Nebraska and the University of Omaha.

Have fun looking through them.

(Photograph is of the Public School, Cozad, Dawson Co., Nebraska.)

Eastern Nebraska Resources

2009-12-21T19:07:00.004-06:00

The very active Greater Omaha Genealogical Society members have web pages that are helpful. These continue to grow, so check them often. The original settlement in Nebraska territory was in the east, along the Missouri River. Therefore, it is a good idea to look for pre-statehood settlers and even those who settled later, in the eastern counties of the state.

Their web site of Omaha Obits is updated several times a month. They provide an index to obituaries and death notices found in Omaha newspapers. For some who did not live too far from Omaha, the announcement of their death still appeared in the Omaha newspaper. The society has also added deaths of Civil War veterans from a larger area. Once you locate obituaries in the index, you can either use the microfilm at the Omaha Public Library, 215 S. 15th Street in Omaha, or order copies. Check out their How to Obtain Obit Copies.

They also supply the researcher with Omaha Area Marriages and Anniversaries. You will find the index and how to obtain copies to be very helpful. There are 132,889 marriage entries. Next, check out Omaha Births from Douglas County, Nebraska records and early Omaha newspapers. There are 7,742 entries to date.

Not only do they have web pages for Omaha vitals, but also for other areas in the state. There is one for Thurston County Marriages. This is north of Omaha and to date has 1,906 listings, including Native American names. Members of the society have also created Hall County Marriages. This county is located west of Omaha, along I-80 and the Platte River, a natural migration corridor for pioneers. To date there are 1,863 listings.

Now they have created a new web site, Sarpy County Marriages. Locate that county on your map and you will that it is south of Omaha proper. In the early days, many people who were not Sarpy County resident got married there. Some came from Omaha, Lincoln and even from Iowa. This is a brand new web page that will continue to grow as members locate the marriages.

Too bad more societies in the state aren't posting vitals like these. They would be so helpful!

Nebraska's Colorful History

2009-12-08T13:55:00.004-06:00

How well do you know your Nebraska history? If you don't live in this state, you probably have a hit and miss knowledge about our history. Even if you live here, do you know about Nebraska history eras, great events and more?

NebraskaStudies.org provides teachers, students, history buffs and yes ... genealogists, access to archival photos, documents, letters, videos, maps and more. The history of Nebraska is captured and available at your finger tips.

Select a time period of interest and begin reading. The History Timeline across the top of the opening web page is a place to begin, or you can go directly to the Table of Contents by clicking on that tab on the left had side of the opening page.

One of the latest additions to the web page is The Story of Beef. Of course, Nebraska is famous for good beef. The saga began with the Texas Longhorns and cattle drives.

Throughout the timeline you can click on a specific event or year. For example, if you have heard about Nebraska's famous photographer, Solomon Butcher, you will find a special tab dated 1886 for him. By clicking on that you will have an interesting narrative to read and photographs to view.

Using this web site is an exercise in clicking! Be sure to check out tools for each timeline era and check those links which can be anything from photographs to videos and documents.

A Blogger Award

2009-12-03T09:07:00.002-06:00

Cheri, aka You Go Genealogy Girl #2, at Those Old Memories has nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thanks Cheri! I try to be creative, but sometimes hit a creative block!

Here are seven things about me. Some of you may know this about me, some may not.

1. I have been doing genealogical research since I was a teenager. The bug bite was hard, deep and has lasted long, considering that I am on Medicare and a grandmother. I have been doing professional research for over thirty years. Even so, I have compassion for beginners and people who are struggling to overcome their brick walls. I also have brick walls.

2. Yes, I'm on Medicare, but that doesn't tell you how old I am. I have also been a widow (young widow) for 2 1/2 years. I lost my husband to cancer in 2007. Since then I have tried to make every day count in my life. I am a ten year cancer survivor, so realize the importance of staying well and making return visits for medical check ups. In addition, every day counts in my life for doing genealogical research.

3. I have two children and two grandchildren. Will soon be blessed with two step grandchildren. They all range in age from 11 to 21. The youngest, my 11 year old granddaughter, enjoys looking at her family genealogy and old photographs. I hope that means she will eventually be traveling with me to courthouses and cemeteries.

4. Genealogy is my passion. It sustains my waking and sleeping hours. Don't you dream of courthouses where volumes of records are just waiting for you, page open to the exact information you need?

5. I am President (again) of the North Platte Genealogical Society in North Platte, Nebraska. We are the oldest genealogy society in the state. Like others, we have had our ups and downs in membership. We manage to draw a good crowd almost every month and hope to keep people up to date on genealogy affairs, plus supply them with knowledge about doing their research. That's a lot to do month after month! Seeing some of them come back month after month, I realize how dedicated they are to their genealogy.

6. My sister-in-law and I travel together, research together, lecture together and wander through cemeteries together. We live 2 1/2 hours apart, but we have e-mail and telephone. In May of this year we went to Salt Lake City. We had a lot of fun, laughs and of course, along the way picked up gobs of information. In July we were honor bloggers at the Family History Expo in Sheridan, WY. I think my late husband would be proud that his sister and I are genealogy pals. We have a blog together, so please check out our antics at, You Go Genealogy Girls. Her husband, occasionally referred to as go-Hubby, is very patient and understanding of our togetherness ... as long as I bring her back home safely, he is happy. Incidentally we travel in my car, aka Lil' Red.

7. Six months ago I was "blessed" with a bum knee. After scope surgery in August, things have not been better. It looks like in order to do all those wonderful things in life, aka genealogical research, I will need a replacement. Bring it on!! I need to be out in the cemeteries in the spring as well as going back to Salt Lake City with my sister-in-law in Lil' Red.

I know ... I'm not supposed to add #8, but can't resist, especially since this is a Nebraska devoted blog. I was born in South Dakota and have lived in that state, plus Wyoming and Colorado. In 1996 I moved to Iowa for a few years. I love Iowa, but Nebraska will always be my home. Go Huskers!

According to the Kreativ Blogger Award rules I am to nominate seven blogs for the award. These are all great blogs, so be sure and check them out. I nominate ...

Cemetery Explorers

Genealogy's Star

Jessica's Genejournal

Mad About Genealogy

Paula's Genealogical Eclectica

Granite Genealogy

Free Genealogy Tools

Nebraska and the Civil War

2009-11-10T09:31:00.003-06:00

Prior to the Civil War, most of the settlement in the Nebraska Territory was located in the eastern portion of the state, primarily along the Missouri River. There were other minor settlements west of there, particularly along the trails that had been leading pioneers westward for almost well over a decade. The territory was settled primarily by people who were sympathetic to the Union case. The U.S. Census of 1860 reveals only fifteen slaves in the Nebraska territory.

When President Lincoln called for troops, Nebraska furnished 3,300 men. This is a remarkable number considering the entire population of the territory in 1860 was only about 30,000 with 9,000 of those being males of military age. Some Nebraska men went to Iowa and Kansas to enlist and some from those states came to Nebraska to enlist.

At the beginning of the Civil War, troops were withdrawn from the garrisons at Fort Kearny and further north along the Missouri River at Fort Randall. This left the area wide open for Indian attack and caused great concern. Major General John J. Thayer of the Nebraska Militia suggested volunteers be placed at the two forts. The federal government proposed that one regiment be raised within Nebraska Territory with a portion of it being used to garrison the forts and defend the frontier. Contrary to the original formation of this regiment, they were ordered to serve against the Confederates in the South and the frontier still remained unprotected.

The regiment, mustered from Omaha, became known as the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. They fought in the first major engagement at Fort Donelson, Tennessee in February of 1862 and were at the Battle of Shiloh. The regiment was also involved in scouting and skirmishing in Missouri and Arkansas. They were granted a furlough in June of 1864 to 13 August 1864 to return to Nebraska.

With the passage of the Homestead Act on 20 May 1862, Nebraska became populated by men (and their families) who had served in the Civil War. As they settled and remained here, camps of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) were formed. Records were created which today can be beneficial to the genealogist. One of the best places to begin online research is at the web page, Nebraskans in the Civil War.

Nebraska Masonic History

2009-10-24T14:47:00.003-05:00

On 3 October 1855 the Grand Lodge of Illinois chartered Nebraska Lodge No. 184 at Bellevue. The first Masonic meeting occurred on 3 April 1855 on the second story of the Old Trading Post at Bellevue, Nebraska Territory. This was owned by Peter Sarpy. Members of the Omaha tribe lived in an adjoining room. Peter Sarpy was the first candidate to be initiated in 1856. Acting upon his petition, members of the lodge were forced to use an empty gallon pickle jar and small gravel stones.

The following year the Giddings Lodge No. 156 at Nebraska City was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Missouri. In 1857 Capitol Lodge No. 101 in Omaha was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Iowa. The same year the three lodges in the Territory of Nebraska organized a Grand Lodge. members from Nebraska City walked to Omaha for the event.

By 1861 the membership growth was slow, partly because of the poor economy. Many of the old members had left for the gold fields. More of a depletion of members occurred as some left to fight in the Civil War. The Masonic Lodges eventually realized growth and renewal by the admission of Nebraska Territory as a state and with the influx of new settlers after the war.

An excellent book that gives chronological information on Masonic events in the state is A Sesquicentennial History of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska 1857-2007 by Russell G. Reno, published in 2007 by Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc. of Richmond, Virginia.

The Masonic Grand Lodge of Nebraska's web site contains lodge information, along with location and links if they have a web page. If you have ancestors who belonged to a Masonic lodge in Nebraska, you may be able to gain more information by contacting either the Grand Lodge or a lodge to which he belonged. In your request, be sure to supply information on your relationships to the subject, along with a brief explanation as to why you are seeking the information.

Genealogy Workshop in Omaha

2009-10-12T10:31:00.002-05:00

The Greater Omaha Genealogy Society is sponsoring a workshop on Saturday, October 24th. It will begin at 9 a.m. at the Nebraska Methodist College, Josie Harper campus. Doors open at 8:15 a.m. There will also be a bake sale and lunch will be served at a nominal fee.

There will be presentations about wills and probate records, Civil War pensions and a panel discussion to discuss some of the attendee's research problems. If you wish to submit a research problem, it must be done with your registration, explaining what you have researched and what you know about the problem. There will also be an Antiques Roadshow type event where attendees can bring family heirlooms and learn more about them.

Click here to download a registration flyer for the workshop.

Family History Month in North Platte

2009-10-04T17:52:00.003-05:00

October is Family History Month. The oldest organized genealogy society in the state of Nebraska is the North Platte Genealogical Society and members are celebrating the month in style!

There is a display on the first floor of the North Platte Public Library, 120 West 4th in North Platte, Nebraska. Volunteers are staffing the genealogy collection in the library, which is on the second floor. Dates are ...

Monday, Oct. 5th 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 9th 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 12th 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 15th 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The volunteers are prepared to help researchers with the questions and assist them in locating books, microfilm and microfiche housed in the library. Collection Organization Tours are being held on:

Saturday, Oct. 17th 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Monday, Oct 19th 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22nd 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Fall Genealogy Seminar will be held on Saturday, October 10th. Ruby Coleman (Yours Truly) will be presenting the seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mid-Plains Community College south campus. The cost is $20; pre-register by calling 308-535-3714. The topics are Clicking Your Way to Genealogical Success (free Internet sites) and Vital Records & Substitutes.

The Genealogy Help Desk will be held on Wednesday, October 21st from 6 to 9 p.m. in the North Platte Public Library Meeting Room. There will be genealogy displays and volunteers available to help with genealogy problems; guests are very welcome. There will be prize drawings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; must be present to win.

This should be a fun filled month to celebrate genealogy.

The Nebraska Migrations Project

2009-09-21T08:50:00.004-05:00

The Nebraska Migrations Project is not a new project, but it is worth checking out. Migrations is actually a stand alone project designed to further migration research and also develop a comprehensive database.

There are two parts to Migrations. The first is the Migrations Database. You can search this by name or place. The second part is a National Migration Links page with a table of state links. There are also some migration links to countries, such as England, Ireland and Germany. Because of the scope of the project, there are search engines for searching locations as well as surnames.

Information submitted to Migrations comes from genealogical researchers who are hoping to make connections with others researching the same family. Obviously the web site will not continue to grow unless people submit their migration information. If you desire to submit information, be sure to read the instructions thoroughly. You will still own the data submitted and it can be removed at your request.

There are 720 entries on the Nebraska Migrations Project. It was started in February of 2000. The database format is name, lifespan, such as 1861-1932 and origin. Once you click on a name of interest, there is more information, such as where born, additional notes along with migration steps and time frame that took them to Nebraska. There is also a clickable link to contact the researcher/submitter.

This is a project worth checking. Spend some time there and see what it is all about, then consider submitting your own data.

Genealogy Lock In

2009-09-14T13:27:00.004-05:00

A Genealogy Lock In will be held on Friday, October 2nd at the Omaha Public Library, 215 S. 15th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. It is sponsored by the library and the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society (GOGS). On that evening after the library is locked, genealogists will be doing serious research. The doors to enter will be locked before 6:30 p.m. on October 2nd, so genealogists need to arrive before then. They can leave at any time, even though the Lock In ends at 9:30 p.m. In order to remain in the library after the doors are locked, genealogists need to have a name tag which they can secure by e-mailing, Sahara346@aol.com.

There will be coffee and cookies to keep genealogists going for three hours of intense research. There will also be a donation jar to help pay the guard's salary. If you don't live in the Omaha Public Library's area (have a patron card), you and get a one-day guest card for $2. Cards from Council Bluffs or Lincoln libraries will be accepted. The card allows you to use the computers and receive five free copies.

Ahead of time it would be a good idea to check out the card catalog and have a research plan. Here are some good reasons why you should attend the Lock-In:

1. two librarians on duty to help genealogists

2. fourteen computers with Ancestry.com and other genealogy web sites

3. over 8,000 genealogy books in the book room

4. marriage microfilm from about 20 Nebraska counties; mostly about 1900, but much later for Douglas and Sarpy counties

5. historical Omaha newspapers on microfilm

6. genealogy newsletters from over 125 genealogy societies around the country

7. complete set of Germans to America and other ethnic immigration book sets

8. complete set of Omaha City directories (and several other cities on microfilm)

9. obituary clipping file, 1977 through June 2008

10. naturalization index for Nebraska and some 60 plus Iowa counties (alphabetical)

11. Internet databases on several Douglas County cemeteries

12. church records from several Omaha historic churches - microfilm

13. historic clipping file on Omaha history and people (only accessible by asking librarians)

14. GO-PAF people available to answer genealogy computer problems

15. GOGS volunteers available to help solve genealogy problems

Sounds like fun. I bet at 9:30 there are some wanting to stay longer. I hope it is a great success.

Nebraska Regional Center Cemetery Records

2009-09-03T11:54:00.003-05:00

After much litigation, the Hastings Regional Center in Adams Co., Nebraska has released photocopies of the cemetery records to the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Adams County Nebraska Historical Society.

The cemetery records also include corresponding plot maps for individuals buried in the Center Cemetery. From 1909 to 1959 there were approximately 751 patients buried there. A second listing abstracted from the medical ledger books between 1889 and 1918 for 399 patients was also provided. Both of these lists are in a PDF (downloadable/searchable) file at the Nebraska State Historical Society web site.

In 1887 the Nebraska legislature appropriated $75,000 for a "state asylum for the incurably insane" at Hastings, provided the city donate 160 acres of land. The city purchased the land one mile west of the city limits and eventually it was turned into 630 acres. The original building was a three story brick building with a tall central tower. Additions were completed through the years. The first patients were received on 1 August 1889. Forty-four were transferred from the "State Lunatic Asylum" in Lincoln, Nebraska. Through the years thousands of patients were received.

The name of the center changed through the years. In 1895 it was renamed Asylum for the Chronic Insane. In 1905 it was named Nebraska State Hospital and in 1915 to Ingleside Hospital for the Insane and eventually to Hastings State Hospital. The current name change occurred in 1971.

Tragically not everybody who was admitted was incurably or chronically insane. They may have suffered from hereditary disorders, change of life, stress, financial problems or domestic issues. It is sad to think that hundreds were buried there and for decades their place of burial was unknown. I hope that family will recognize their name and find them at last.

Nebraska Tombstones

2009-08-25T12:36:00.004-05:00

Looking for Nebraska tombstones? You might want to check out the Nebraska State Genealogical Society's Tombstone Photo Project. People, using digital cameras, are uploading photographs of tombstones in Nebraska cemeteries. Some cemeteries are complete and some are not. Many are yet to be photographed.

If you are inclined to help with the project, review the instructions online. Fall is a great time to visit a cemetery ... just look out for the poison ivy. Those of you with Nebraska ancestry, keep checking back to see what has been added in your areas of interest.

The Nebraska Tombstone Photo Project is also another place with tombstone photographs. It is part of the USGenWeb Tombstone Project. You can also locate Nebraska cemetery photographs at FindAGrave. Click on "Search for a cemetery." If you know the name of the cemetery and location, enter that, otherwise browse by state and county. Leave a photo request and hopefully somebody will go to the cemetery and take a photograph for you.

Finding tombstones in Nebraska is getting a lot easier. Just take a look!

Wikipedia, Nebraska and Maps

2009-08-09T10:34:00.003-05:00

Do you know where you are researching in Nebraska? Did your ancestors live here in some little town or someplace no longer on the maps? Take a look around ... you may find where you are researching.

For example, enter the following in the Google search box: "hershey nebraska wikipedia" and then click on the link to that subject in Wikipedia, which is a free encyclopedia. When it opens, you will be able to learn more about Hershey, Nebraska which is located in Lincoln County. You can learn about its geography, demographics and click on references and external links. Some place on that web page (usually right hand side), you will see a county map and Nebraska map showing the location of Hershey.

Under the map are coordinates. Click on the blue highlighted coordinates and you will be taken to a long list of maps on Internet that have maps of Hershey, Nebraska. Some are maps, satellite maps and some are terrain maps. There are also photo links and Wikipedia article links as well as a lot of other information. Have fun checking out the maps.

You can also search Wikipedia for townships. Enter the following: "mirage township nebraska wikipedia" and you will be taken to the web page with information and links pertaining to that township which is in Kearney County. There is a map on the web page showing the location of Mirage Township in Kearney County. Under that are the coordinates. Click on those and you will be directed to the maps under global systems with links to Internet.

Click on Geonames (satellite). Mirage Township is shown. You can zoom in and out and move it around. There are symbols on the map with names and locations of cemeteries, villages, historical sites and more. What fun!

With a little bit of exploring you may be able to discover more about places your ancestor lived that are no longer in existence. You can apply this map research to any place in world that interests you. Of course, I'm partial to Nebraska!

Homesteading in Nebraska

2009-07-30T12:33:00.004-05:00

The need and lust for land developed the state of Nebraska. Because of that, records were created which can be useful to genealogists. If you think your ancestor settled in Nebraska and obtained land under the Homestead Act, you need to explore what is going online.

The Homestead Act of 1862 was in effect for 123 years. Through this act claimants could obtain 160 acres of land if they filed and demonstrated that they were improving the land within five years. If the claimant was not a citizen of the United States, they had to also indicate that their declaration of intention had been filed. Men who served in the Union Army during the Civil War could use their time in service against the five years required to obtain patent to the land.

There are approximately 2 million homestead case files in the National Archives (NARA) in Washington, DC. The files contain information that can be beneficial, such as naturalization papers, family information, military information and declarations of intention. With the final certificate number found in the online Homestead Records database, you can obtain complete files from the National Archives.

The Homestead Records Broken Bow Nebraska Land Office is sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration. The Broken Bow Land Office was open from 1890 to 1908. Located in Custer County, it was approximately in the center of Nebraska.

A search, either simple or advanced, on the web page will produce results showing the name of the claimant, sometimes the place of origin, witnesses, clerk, application date, final certificate date, approval date, patented date, claimant's gender, final certificate number and place. If you click on "Similar Items Find," you will obtain a list of other claimants who filed for land in the same area.

History of the State of Nebraska

2009-07-22T09:02:00.005-05:00

Years ago when I began doing research in Nebraska, a well-versed genealogist suggested that I look at Andreas. That's it ... just Andreas. I soon discovered that Andreas was the History of the State of Nebraska, first published in 1882 by the Western Historical Company, A.T. Andreas, Proprietor, Chicago, Illinois.

It is a tome that can be found in almost all larger libraries in the state of Nebraska. Fortunately it has been extracted and placed on Internet in the Kansas Collection Books. Even if you do not have ancestry in the early 1880s and prior to that in Nebraska, it is a good idea to use the book.

There is significant information in it about Nebraska as a territory, as well as after it became a state on 1 March 1867. The history includes information on the railroads, settlers and military history. In the military history, you will find rosters of soldiers who served from Nebraska.

Andreas also includes histories and biographical information from the counties, cities, towns and villages in Nebraska. The early history of the counties and settlements is priceless. The biographical sketches are of prominent men, as well as early settlers. There are some photographs of buildings and people. The online extraction includes an index of names by county.

Alfred Theodore Andreas would be surprised to know that his 1882 Nebraska book is so popular, let alone that it is in extracted format on Internet. You can locate a library that has either the original or reproductions by using WorldCat. Take a look at Andreas ... you'll learn a whole lot about Nebraska!

Genealogy - Nebraska to Wyoming

2009-07-14T08:03:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day. I leave for western Nebraska to pick up my side-kick for the Family History Expo in Sheridan, WY. Who is my side-kick? We are the You Go Genealogy Girls and she's my sister-in-law. Check out our blog.

We are honor bloggers at the Family History Expo, so you won't want to miss a single tidbit of information from us. We'll be blogging at the You Go Genealogy Girls blog and also on Twitter. You can follow me on Twitter @GenGirl1. She's on Twitter @GenGirl2.

This promises to be a great expo with many interesting lecture topics and knowledgeable speakers. Check it all out at the Family History Expo website.

GenealogyWise - Nebraska Research & Ancestry

2009-07-10T09:50:00.003-05:00

It's new and it's fun! Somewhat like Facebook, there is now a social network in place for genealogists. It is called GenealogyWise. It was recently launched by FamilyLink and is buzzing with activity. Yes, it grows by the hour ... almost by the minute.

You can join it free, create your personal profile, find friends (genealogy friends, of course), set up or join groups and invite people to be your friends, to events or discussions. Along with the discussion forum, there are blog and video areas. If you click on Genealogy Search, it takes you directly to the subscription site of World Vital Records.

On this great social networking site you don't wander around through personal friends and relatives who have no interest in genealogy. You are sharing and communicating with genealogists, many of whom may be researching the same surnames or in the same areas.

I have started a group on GenealogyWise and invite you to check it out. It's Nebraska Research & Ancestry, devoted to those who research in Nebraska or have ancestry here. This is a personal invitation to join GenealogyWise and then join my group. You also have my permission to join many of the other groups!

Nebraska Railroad History

2009-07-03T14:17:00.004-05:00

Do you remember riding on a train? Not a subway, but a real train? My memories probably date me, but I can remember how disgusted my mother was when I would come home wearing a black-streaked dress. Watching the steam engine come into town, I would invariably get soot all over me. Those were the days when little girls wore dresses. I can also remember riding the trains and looking forward to the porter selling ham sandwiches. Even though I knew every town along the route, it was fun to look out the train window at the people getting on or off the train.

Nebraska is rich in railroad history. It was through this state that the rails were laid to link the east to the west. You may have had ancestors who worked on the rails or traveled them. Old newspaper frequently contain information on passengers as well as arrival and departure times. They are fascinating to read.

An interesting web page is The Iron Road. It has many links to Nebraska railroad trivia, databases and history. If there are stories in your family about train wrecks and accidents in Nebraska you will want to check that link. You can learn which railroads came through Nebraska counties at Nebraska Counties Railroad History.

There are links to web pages that have information on early railroaders in Nebraska. Some of these are Grand Island - Railroad Men; Union Pacific Railroad Seniority List District 92 and Nebraska Railroaders.

There are still railroads in Nebraska. Passengers no longer travel the rails. Those are days gone by ... and I will always have fond memories of those days.

Finding Nebraska Cemeteries

2009-06-27T12:59:00.004-05:00

There are many ways to find information about Nebraska cemeteries on Internet. Probably one of the easiest is to enter search terms into Google. These can either be by the name of the cemetery and county and "Nebraska" or "cemetery" plus county and "Nebraska."

Another place to check is ePodunk. The opening web page has a selection of county profiles. Click on Nebraska, then proceed to the county of your choice. Once you have selected a county, the return will show a map of Nebraska indicating the location of the county. You can study census, demographics and also check out the cemeteries in the county. Making a cemetery selection will pull up a Google map showing the cemetery location as well as the latitude and longitude of the location.

BrainyGeography is a fun web page to explore. Click on Nebraska and then click on cemetery. Once you locate a cemetery of your choice, information pops up about the latitude, longitude, as well as a Google map. For some reason these Google maps do not pinpoint the cemetery locations.

One that I particularly like is Lat-Long.com. Search by Nebraska and you will locate an alphabetical listing of Nebraska cemeteries, followed by the name of the county. These also have google maps, along with a state map and latitude and longitude locations.

There's actually many more cemetery locators on Internet, but give these a "go." You will like them!

Land Records

2009-06-20T10:23:00.004-05:00

A Genealogy & Land Records Symposium will be held Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th. The location for the symposium is the SCC Continuing Education Center, 301 South 68th Street Place in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This event is a partnership between the Homestead National Monument of America and the Southeast Community College (SCC). The deadline for registration is July 2nd.

Nebraska is a great setting to learn about land records. The Homestead Act of 1862 provided approximately 270 million acres of land for settlement, much of which was located in Nebraska. Participants in the symposium will learn about land records, in particular about the Homestead Act.

An exciting presentation will be given by Richard G. Sayre, who will show how to use Google Earth to make and map historical buildings and cemeteries. Other speakers will be Greg Boyd (Family Maps), Peter Drinkwater (Footnote.com), and Pamela Boyer Sayre (learning new things and Google Earth). The keynote speaker will be Kenneth Heger, Chief of the Archives I Support Branch, National Archives.

Be sure to look at their brochure and registration form which can be downloaded in PDF format. This is a great Nebraska event you won't want to miss!

North Platte Public Library, North Platte, Nebraska

2009-06-13T12:48:00.007-05:00

This is a library in my home town and they have a great genealogy collection. It is on the second floor, with access by elevator or stairs. The library is located two blocks from the Lincoln County Courthouse, so you can easily do a lot of research in downtown North Platte.

North Platte Public Library

120 West 4th Street

North Platte, NE 69101

308-535-8036

Summer Hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day)

Monday & Thursday 9 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Closed Sundays

The library has a large collection of genealogical and historical books, with emphasis on Nebraska and Lincoln County. Some of the highlights of their collection include:

Lincoln County Atlases

1885 Atlas of Nebraska

Lincoln County and other Nebraska county cemeteries

City Directories for North Platte - 1919-current with some missing years

North Platte High School yearbooks

Obituary Index

Newspaper Index

DAR Cabinet

rare books, DAR Lineage books 1893-1921, Pennsylvania Archives

Vertical File - scrapbooks, clippings, maps

Microfilm

North Platte newspapers 1915-February 2009; some missing issues; some earlier years

Lincoln County Court Records - 26 reels about 1900 to about 1970

Lincoln County Naturalizations

New England Historic Genealogical Society Register Volumes 1-50

census, passenger lists

There two microfilm reader/printers available. Patrons can use computers in the Technology Learning Center next to the genealogy collection.

Be sure to include this library in one of your summer time research trips!

Nebraska in the Civil War

2009-06-06T10:28:00.006-05:00

At the dawn of the Civil War, Nebraska was still a territory, with heavier populations in the east. Elibigle men living in the territory responded to the call for troops. This resulted unprotected western settlements in the territory. If we could travel back in time, we would see the southeast portion of the territory, primarily Nebraska City, providing a safe haven for people fleeing the fighting along the Missouri-Kansas border.

Nebraska provided about 3,300 soldiers to the Union Army. Of these 239 died in war, most from disease and not in battle. Shortly after the Civil War broke out, territorial Governor Alvin Saunders called for the formation of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry regiment. Troops boarded steamboats at Omaha in July of that year and left for Missouri. Some of these men were involved in major battles, such as Shiloh.

In 1863 the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry was reconstituted as a cavalry regiment. They were furloughed to Omaha and assigned as the First Nebraska Cavalry to Fort Kearny in 1864. The second cavalry regiment was recruited for nine months to respond to the Santee uprising in Minnesota and the Battle at White Stone Hill north of Fort Pierre in Dakota Territory.

One of the largest repositories for military records in Nebraska is in Lincoln at the Nebraska State Historical Society. While they are currently closed for remodeling, it is definitely a place you need to visit when they reopen. They are located at 1500 R Street in Lincoln. A synopsis of their Civil War collection is:

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR Membership Rosters

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Burial Cards

Rosters of Nebraska Soldiers in the Civil War, 1861-1865 as published in Andreas's 1882 History of Nebraska

Rosters of Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, 1887-1925 (living in Nebraska during that time period)

Gerald E. Sherard has two large databases online for Nebraska Civil War soldier information. They are Nebraska Civil War Grand Army of the Republic Members Index and Nebraska Civil War Veterans' Data. In addition the Nebraska State Historical Society has a search form for their Nebraska Civil War Veterans' Database.

Other Internet web pages with good information include the Civil War Rosters - Nebraska Links and 1893 Roster of Nebraska Veterans-Nebraska Enlistees. The Nebraska Civil War Regimental Histories contains a good deal of interesting information.

A membership in Footnote.com gains you information from the compiled service records for Union Soldiers, Nebraska. It is about 95% complete. These are not pension records. If you do not have a membership in Footnote.com, you can access this at a Family History Center (LDS) near you.

Kilgore Memorial Library, York, Nebraska

2009-05-29T16:51:00.007-05:00

The Kilgore Memorial Library in York, Nebraska, located a couple blocks off the main area of York, contains some resources for the genealogist.

Kilgore Memorial Library

520 Nebraska Avenue

York, NE 68467-3035

Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In their library you will find an index to local newspapers as well as microfilm of newspapers. They have some York High School annuals and some York College annuals. City directories are available for 1887, 1891, 1902, 1906, 1909, 1912, and 1915. The library has two volumes of local cemetery extracts for York area cemeteries. You can check the location of York area cemeteries online. Once you click on a cemetery name, you are directed to a Google Map of the cemetery.

The Kilgore Memorial Library will answer limited genealogy requests. An e-mail contact form is located on their web page. If you are traveling, you can use one of their computer workstations or use your own laptop through their WIFI.

Another great source for the genealogist is the York County Historical Association, PO Box 81, York, NE 68467. They have many excellent genealogical databases on their web page. These include records of land, naturalizations, directories, atlases, mortuary records, GAR records, county histories and school records. You can use their order form to obtain copies.

York County is an original county, formed in 1855. You will find many old records there, so enjoy your visit in person or on the Internet.

Traveling to Salt Lake City

2009-05-12T07:04:00.003-05:00

Good morning! This blog will be quiet for a few weeks. I'm leaving this morning to begin my trip to Salt Lake City (yes, for research!). This will mean stops here and there along the way (yes, for research!).

To follow with what I'm doing (in case you are interested), please read the blog The You Go Genealogy Girls. My sister-in-law and I will be traveling together and you will enjoy reading our comments. Maybe you will enjoy the blog so much, you will become a follower and read it even after I'm back home.

Knight Museum & Sandhills Center Heritage Room - Alliance, Nebraska

2009-05-07T12:33:00.007-05:00

The newly remodeled Knight Museum & Sandhills Center has a wonderful Heritage Room for the pursuit of genealogical and historical information. Emphasis in the collection is on Box Butte County and Western Nebraska. The museum and center is located at 908 Yellowstone in Alliance; 308-762-2384; museum@cityofalliance.net. Until March 2010 when the center is officially complete, the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends by appointment.

In the Heritage Room you will find not only indexes and books, but also original records that were once housed in the Box Butte County Courthouse. There are also numerous databases that have been placed on Internet at Box Butte County Databases.

Marriages - film and copies up to 1940 - database on Internet

Delayed Birth Records - originals - index on Internet

Court Records - originals 1887-1943 and index

Divorces - originals to 1943

Cemetery Books for the Alliance Cemetery, Calvary Cemetery, Hemingford Cemetery, rural cemeteries

Birth Records - Dr. Petersen and Dr. Burnham - originals and index

Funeral Home Records - Miller and Landa - originals and index

Naturalizations - index from courthouse records

School Annuals for Alliance High School (ca 1910-1980), Hemingford High School and St. Agnes High School

Soldier's Index of 1891

Patent Record Index - indexed by local genealogical society - originals in courthouse

1887 Tax List Index - indexed by local genealogical society - originals in courthouse

Newspapers on microfilm - Alliance, Hemingford and Lakeside

Families histories, scrapbooks, etc.

Photographs

County histories

Box Butte County census - all that is currently available

The Cemetery books contain extensive information. They are in loose leaf notebooks. Where available, newspaper data on the deceased, the obituary and family information has been added, along with a photograph of the tombstone.

The Heritage Room has WIFI and also a computer for patron use. Director, Becci Thomas, extends a welcome to anyone interested in visiting the center. Add it to your genealogy research places to visit!

An Abundance of Land in Nebraska

2009-04-23T20:36:00.007-05:00

While people could purchase land directly from the federal government, many did not. The land available from the federal government depended upon various land acts throughout the mid to late 1800s and into the 20th century. (The photo on the right depicts people waiting in line at the Broken Bow, Nebraska Land Office.)

Your research should always begin at the courthouse level, checking deed indexes and then the actual deeds. Patents are also registered in the courthouses, but you will not find the complete files in those jurisdictions.

If you suspect that your ancestor purchased land from the federal government, search the web site of the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records. Be sure to read the information on their web page before performing a search.

The U.S. General Land Office Tract Books for Nebraska are located in the Nebraska State Historical Society, 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. The society is undergoing a two-year renovation program, so at this time the research materials are unavailable. When you are able to use these books, keep in mind that they are only for land obtained from the federal government. The information contained is: name of person(s) who filed for land, date, legal description, type of land entry and final certificate number.

Nebraska Land Offices and Date Opened

Omaha City - 1854

Brownsville - 1857

Nebraska City - 1857

Dakota City - 1857

Beatrice - 1868

Lincoln - 1868

Grand Island - 1868

West Point - 1869

Lowell - 1872

North Platte - 1872

Norfolk - 1873

Bloomington - 1874

Niobrara - 1875

Neligh - 1881

Valentine - 1882

McCook - 1882

Sidney - 1886

Chadron - 1886

O'Neill - 1888

Alliance - 1890

Broken Bow - 1890

Distribution of Federal Land in Nebraska

Homesteads - 19,224,310 acres

Gifts to Railroads - 8,172,859 acres

Kinkaid Homesteaders - 7,834,240 acres

Pre-Emption - 4,996,480 acres

Sale - 3,991,658 acres

State Lands - 3,025,780 acres

Homesteads commuted for cash - 2,634,240 acres

Rails Then and Now in Nebraska

2009-04-23T14:41:00.021-05:00

A mournful whistle, a loud thump ... more than a thump ... a boom, a crash. My sleep is interrupted. Oh yes! It's coming from the railroad yards as they move trains by computerized remote control. One train section forcefully hits another to link together, eventually making one long train.

As I try to get back to sleep my thoughts turn to what used to be. Pretty typical of a genealogist! The Platte River Valley across the state of Nebraska was the route of wagon wheels and carts, clanking and banging their way along to the west. Eventually those wheels were replaced by steel wheels of greater magnitude.

As early as 1836 there was talk about constructing a railroad to connect the eastern United States with the Pacific Ocean. More so after the explorations in 1842 and 1846, Congress began debating the importance of such a means of transportation. A railroad was being built across Iowa and entrepreneur Thomas Durant hoped to extend the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad to the Pacific coast. He sent his engineer, Grenville M. Dodge, to make surveys and collect data.

The timing was poor as an economic panic hit the nation in 1857. Then came the Civil War which eliminated any southern route to the Pacific. It was apparent that any route west would have to go through the Platte Valley which was taking settlers to the west coast. The government realized if it was to be built, they would have to do the financing. Promotion companies began vying for the contract. On 1 July 1862 the Pacific Railroad Act was passed. This provided for a hundred million dollar corporation ... the largest capitalization ever known in the United States.

The act presented the promoters with a right of way through public lands, 200 feet each side, for the entire distance that the railroad would be built. They would have free use of building materials from public lands. Through the act they would received every alternate odd numbered section of public land to the amount of four sections a mile on each side, along with a subsidy of $16,000 a mile on the plains and $32,000-$48,000 a mile through the mountains. In the process there would be an annulment of Indian titles.

On 2 December 1863 near the ferry landing on the west bank of the Missouri River at Omaha, ground was broken. Progress was extremely slow and by the spring of 1866, only 60 miles of rails had been laid. General Dodge of the Union Army became Chief Engineer of the railroad and saw the project through completion. By the summer of 1866 the tracks were about midway through Nebraska. On 6 October 1866 the track crossed the 100th meridian near the present community of Cozad, 247 miles from Omaha. Shortly after that Dodge went to an area near the confluence of the North and South Platte rivers. It was the projected site of North Platte and was to be a railroad division point, 291 miles west of Omaha.

The railroad, known as the Union Pacific Railroad, reached North Platte on 3 December 1866 and that winter progressed westward. North Platte became the first of the notorious "Hell-on-Wheels" towns, which was an expression credited to Samuel Bowles, editor of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican.

In December of 1866 the area had been prairie and within three weeks there were about 20 buildings, including a brick roundhouse capable of storing 40 engines. nearby was a frame depot and frame hotel which cost $18,000 to build. Within a few months there were 15 businesses in North Platte, nine of which served food and/or drink. North Platte's population soared with construction workers, miners, soldiers, traders, teamsters, prostitudes, adventurers and speculators. All within six months it grew to 5,000 people. Wide open living ... gambling, shooting, drinking ... no laws against it!

By 1870 the route was advertised in newspapers as the Union Pacific All Rail Route to California and the Pacific Coast. The journey of 1,800 miles was made in record time. Each train had sleeping cars and a Pullman's Palace. Some of the passenger lists for those early years have survived. It is exciting to read the names. In July of 1871 Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton traveled together from New York to the west coast. Also passing through North Platte were artists, actors, actresses and lecturers, going to San Francisco. Early balloonists, Professor Coe and Mr. Lay, made their way to California on the Union Pacific Railroad in January of 1873. Professor Coe made balloon observations over Confederate camps during the Civil War. Along with the famous came the not so famous ... carloads of unidentified emigrants. Railroad travel also allowed people to return to the east as easily as they went west.

It is so different now. The Platte River Valley is still here, lined with homes extending far to the west, one of which is mine. What began as one set of railroad tracks is now known as the Union Pacific Bailey Yard. It is the world's largest Railroad Classification Yard covering 2,850 acres with 315 miles of tracks. There are 16 receiving and 18 departing tracks with 3,000 cars sorted daily. One of the railroad's largest repair facilities is there, large enough to house three football fields.

You can see all of this in action from the newly built Golden Spike Tower at North Platte. It is local history in progress by preserving the past and allowing people to view the present and future. The eight story building has displays, a gift shop and an 8 story enclosed 365 degree view of Bailey Yard. From there you can envision the lay of the land before the rails and during the early progress. You can watch the computerized movement of train cars that create the loud crash that I've grown used to hearing. Occasionally it wakes me at night so I can reflect on the days gone by in the life of the railroad.

Researching in Nebraska Courts

2009-04-14T09:01:00.008-05:00

The court system in Nebraska consists of a supreme court, district courts and limited jurisdiction courts. Under the limited jurisdiction courts are found the county, juvenile, municipal and workers' compensation courts. The court where many records will be found that interest the genealogist is the County Court. Also of interest to the genealogist is the District Court which is a trial court of general jurisdiction.

The District Court hears all felony and civil cases involving more than $10,000. It acts as the appellate court for county courts. The County Court has limited jurisdiction and handles most misdemeanor cases, ordinance violations and civil cases involving less than $10,000. There are 93 counties in the state of Nebraska, 21 judicial districts and 48 district court judges. There is an elected clerk of the district court to handle administrative duties. There are 57 court judges in the County Court jurisdiction with an appointed clerk to handle the administration.

Actual county government in Nebraska began when it was a territory in November of 1854. At that time the boundaries of the first counties were established as Burt, Cass, Pierce (later was named Otoe), Douglas, Dodge, Washington, Richardson and Forney (later was named Nemaha). The last county created in Nebraska was Arthur County in 1913.

During the territorial period of 1855-1867 there were justice courts (justices of peace), probate courts and district courts. The actual county justice courts continued to exist until 1970 when they were abolished. There were also police magistrate courts in the territorial time period. They also continued until about 1972.

Marriages will usually be found in the County Clerk's office. Some smaller courthouses maintain land records in the County Clerk's office, but normally they are found in the Register of Deed's office. Look for naturalization papers in the County Clerk of County Judge's office. Records of divorce, civil and criminal records are found in the Clerk of the District Court offices. Probate records and guardianships are usually in the office of the County Judge.

While some courthouses have records from the formation of the county, some may be stored offsite and some may be at the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln, Nebraska. You may discover that some courthouses have computerized indexes of their records, such as probate and marriages.

A listing of election officials, which is also the county clerk, can be found at the Nebraska Secretary of State web page. This also includes addresses, both postal and e-mail, plus telephone numbers. A good web page to check for what is available in public records online is the Nebraska Free Public Records Directory. Read more about Nebraska's judicial system at Nebraska Judicial Branch.

When doing your Nebraska research also investigate city or municipal level records. Some of these include burial permits, cemetery records, council or committee records and police records.

Be prepared for your Nebraska courthouse research by knowing in what jurisdiction you'll find the records!

West Nebraska Family Research & History Center

2009-04-06T13:08:00.006-05:00

Sometimes genealogists think that only public libraries have genealogy materials. Quite the contrary! A good example of this is the West Nebraska Family Research & History Center located at 1602 Avenue A, Scottsbluff, NE 69361.

There is no charge to use the facility which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment on Sundays. The center encourages and promotes research, offers educational programs and workshops.

They have three workstations with microfilm readers and a microfiche reader, computer with high speed Internet access, photocopy machine and scanner. Their reading room has open bookshelves with books, newsletters, old phone books, magazines, indexes, city directories, maps, gazetteers, family files and a lot more.

When I visited the center, I was impressed with the materials that pertain to the panhandle of Nebraska with emphasis on Scotts Bluff County. It was worth the visit and time spent there browsing through their collection.

For more information, call them at 308-635-2400 or visit their web page. If you are attending the Nebraska State Genealogical Society conference April 30th-May 2nd, be sure to check if they are open then stop by for a look at their collection.

April Genealogy Events in Nebraska

2009-03-31T08:53:00.016-05:00

April is the month genealogists come out of their cocoon. While winter doesn't seem to be completely over here in Nebraska, it still a good time to plan on attending one or more of the great events being held in April right here in our state.

April 2nd and April 9th (Thursdays) - Classes at the Family History Center, 3000 Old Cheney Road in Lincoln, Nebraska. Each class begins at 7 pm and will be free, but pre-registration is requested. April 2nd - "Correspondence" ... learn how to network to research your family history

April 9th - "Using Multimedia In Your Family History Research" ... Internet resources, saving documents and photos and sharing them

To register, call 402-423-4561 or e-mail Tina Wells, FHC Director at tmwells@radiks.net.

April 4th (Saturday) - Grand Opening of the new location for the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society (SWNGS), 1 p.m. The society and their library and computers are now located in the Merit Building, Suite M3 in downtown McCook, Nebraska. It is on C Street between West 1st and Norris Avenue; parking lot within walking distance. Patrons should enter on the north side of the building on C Street and take the elevator to the M level suites.

April 18th (Saturday) - Genealogy Seminar at Mid-Plains Community College, South Campus on State Farm Road in North Platte, Nebraska; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., presented by Ruby Coleman.

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. "Dot to Dot ... Effective Research" (evaluating research needs; class participation in solving research problems)

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. "Tracing Ancestors Through Migrations" (study of migrations and learning where to locate your ancestors)

More information 308-534-1940 or rcoleman@inebraska.com

Pre-registration is recommended 308-535-3600 (ask for Tom Gorman's office)

April 25th (Saturday) - Spring Workshop presented by the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society; doors open at 8:15 a.m. and workshop is from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. - Nebraska Methodist College, 720 N. 87th Street, Omaha, Nebraska

Featuring Roger P. Minert, professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. His topics will be Civil Records in Germany; Communicating With Agencies and Individuals in Europe; Church Records in Germany; Avoiding "Self-Defeating Behaviors" in German Family History. Download a flyer for this workshop at their web page.

April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd - Scottsbluff Nebraska -- annual Nebraska State Genealogical Society Conference - featured speaker Julie Miller, C.G. Her topics are The 5 Steps of a Genealogical Proof; Lost in Translation: How to Cite Genealogy Sources; Chasing the Link: Passenger Arrival Lists; Firing up the Next Generation of Genealogists!; When Grandpa Went Off to War: U.S. Military Records. Events will be held at the Harms Advanced Technology Center, 2620 College Park in Scottsbluff. Download a brochure at the state web page.

Hope to see some of you at these great events!

Trails Across Nebraska

2009-03-26T11:05:00.014-05:00

The Great Migration across the middle of the continent primarily began in 1841. Earlier than that steamboats brought people on the Missouri River to the eastern part of the territory of Nebraska. During a twenty year period of time, approximately 40 to 50 steamboats plied the waters of the Missouri River. The Platte River served as a natural corridor for migration and eventually provided a vital link from ocean to ocean. The primary trails in Nebraska included:

South Pass Trail- key to the Continental Divide and then on to the west coast; the Platte River provided a natural link to the South Pass in what is now Colorado

Oregon Trail - a famous trail that followed the Little Blue and Platte River Valleys with eastern connecting points along the Missouri River at Bellevue, Nebraska City and actually further south at St. Joseph and Westport Landing in Missouri

Mormon Trail - originally used by fleeing Mormons who camped at Florence in what is now Omaha, also known as Winter Quarters

California Trail or California Road - used by gold seekers; also known as the Independence Road; followed the Oregon Trail until it reached the area near Fort Hall and then dipped southward to Sutter's Fort in California

Overland Stage Trail - alternative route designed in 1858; provided a link from the Platte River to the Green River area; a more direct route than the original route along the North Platte River; went up the Lodgepole to Cheyenne Pass; became the route taken by the Union Pacific Railroad

The two most famous trails in Nebraska were the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. Traditionally the Oregon Trail followed the south side of the Platte River. The Mormon Trail was on the north side of the Platte River, then following the North Platte River westward. However, in my years of research of early pioneers using both of these trails, this was not always true. In some cases diaries reveal that pioneers to Oregon were also on the north side of the river and in a few cases Mormons were traveling on the south side toward Utah. In some years the river changed course and in some cases flooded, so the routes would be diverted.

I live between the rivers, a short distance north of the South Platte River. Further north along the North Platte River would be the route of the Mormon trail. The magnitude of people traveling through here is incomprehensible. This all took place to make Nebraska a great state. I hope you enjoy the YouTube video, "This is Nebraska." It is one of my favorites.

Nebraska State Genealogical Society

2009-03-23T18:58:00.005-05:00

In 1978 some avid genealogists organized the Nebraska State Genealogical Society. It has been going strong since and is a source of help and support for people doing research in Nebraska.

Membership in the society runs from June 1st to May 31st of the following year. Members receive a subscription to the quarterly magazine, Nebraska Ancestree and to the quarterly newsletter, NewBrassKey. They can also borrow microfilm and books from the state society's collection. For more information about the types of memberships, fees and also the advantages of becoming a member, go to the Nebraska State Genealogical Society web page.

The society has a Family Recognition program. A First Family certificate is available to those who have an ancestor settling in Nebraska by 1867. The Pioneer Family certificate is available for those who prove lineage to an ancestor settling here between 1868 and 1879. The Century Family certificate is for those who settled 100 years prior to the application. Samples of these are on the society's web page.

The Members Only area of their web page is being developed. You can also access their book catalog through the web page. The annual state conference will be held April 30-May 2, 2009 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. You can read about this and sign up by going to the web page.

Support the state society ... join now and enjoy the fun!

Nebraska Beginnings

2009-03-21T11:26:00.005-05:00

Of the 50 states, Nebraska is the 16th largest with a total area of 77,359 square miles. Known as the Cornhusker State, Nebraska's roots are deep in the history and geography of the United States. In a much earlier time, rivers carved and coursed their way across the area that is now known as Nebraska. Ancient sand dunes that are now covered with soil and grass, rose up in the north central portion of the land. Drainage through the sand created an aquifer stretching for hundreds of miles north and south. These formations of land would be instrumental in the settlement and creation of a territory and state that would be called NEBRASKA.

This land was purchased by the United States government 1803 through the Louisiana Purchase. Within a few years exploration began. From those early contacts with the area, Nebraska exemplifies civilization in westward motion as millions of people eventually traveled the natural course of the Platte River Valley. The human rivers of migration had a geographical indentation on the land and an historical impact for future generations.

Rivers that were carved across the land provided a system of ladders that would be instrumental in migration, settlement and survival in the new land. They all wind their way into the Missouri River, which eventually finds its way to the Mississippi River. Nebraska's rivers would receive names such as the Platte River, Republican River, Loup Rivers, Niobrara River and Elkhorn River. Even the smallest of streams and creeks provided the early explorers and settlers with life sustenance.

The first settlement of any type was in 1810 at Bellevue along the Missouri River. The first white settlement there was in 1823 with the formation of the actual village. The first military post was Fort Atkinson, established by the U.S. Army in 1819. We will discuss Nebraska's military posts in another blog. When Major Stephen H. Long followed the Platte and South Platte Rivers in 1819 he declared that the region was unfit for agriculture. It was detailed on his maps as being the "Great Desert." It was generally felt that if trees did not grow in soil, nothing else would grow ... and the area was significantly treeless!

In 1842 John Charles Fremont explored the area and stated, "Indians and buffalo made the poetry and life of the prairie, and our camp was full of their exhilaration." The word Nebraska first began to appear in publication in 1842. He referred to the Nebraska River which was a name the Otoe Indians gave the Platte River, meaning "flat water."

The area became known as Nebraska Territory in 1854 and encompassed land now known as Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota and Idaho. Until then, the government refused to allow white settlers into the area. When people did begin to enter Nebraska to stay, they did not venture far from the the Missouri River in the eastern portion of the territory.

And so ... now you know some of the early origins of Nebraska.

Welcome to Nebraska Roots and Ramblings

2009-03-20T16:39:00.002-05:00

NEBRASKA became a state on 1 March 1867. It is a grand state which people explored and passed through on their way to the west coast. Fortunately, some found their way back and others took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 and 1866 to obtain land in Nebraska.

There are many Nebraska resources available for researchers. This blog will be devoted to research and resources in Nebraska. There will be information pertaining to genealogical events in the state and a lot of helpful hints and tips for doing research. Occasionally a post will pertain to a Nebraska library that has a genealogical collection.

Stay tuned for more on Nebraska ... home of many genealogists and home of the Big Red Huskers!!