Garden County Nebraska

GardenCoNe.com

Oshkosh, Lewellen, Lisco

Nebraska has been part of other countries, (Spain, France) territories and states, including the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and U.S. government designated "Indian country" until 1854, but we will begin our history of present day Garden County when Nebraska gained statehood on 1 March 1867. (Nebraska History on the Nebraska Department of Economic Development site.)

The area was a part of Cheyenne County until 1888 when the division of that county formed Deuel County. Residents in what is now Northern Garden County were over 70 miles from their County Seat in Chappell, with the North Platte River between.

The wagon bridges at Oshkosh and Lewellen were not built until 1891. Previous to that time, crossing the river was usually dangerous. Many would get caught in the quicksand, losing their horses, loads and sometimes even themselves.

Cattlemen settled most of the area beginning around 1895

Kinkaid homesteaders of 1905 to 1910 settled on all the rest of the lands left unclaimed until that time.

The Union Pacific Railroad arrived in Oshkosh in 1908.

The split from Deuel County took place in 1909, when citizens voted to form Garden County, chosing the title as "garden spot of the west," and elected Oshkosh its county seat.

"The commissioners rented the lower floor of the Commercial Hotel in Oshkosh for a courthouse, hired Mr. Day to transcribe the records from Deuel county; built a temporary jail and a cement vault for the records, and early in 1910 Oshkosh got settled down to the duties and responsibilities as county seat of the new county." "In the spring of 1914, the county commissioners called a special election to submit to the voters the question of issuing courthouse bonds in the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,OOO). The measure failed to carry and the county was still renting the old cramped, unsuitable building for a courthouse."

On December 12, 1918, land on Main Street and Avenue F was deeded to Garden County for a court house, from the August Sudman Company for $1.00. The "new" Courthouse opened ....

Expansion..... Annex.....

Update.... Elevator....