John Reck, born in 1817 in Belgium, arrived in Columbus in 1857. He had come to Omaha shortly after the organization of the territory, and had lived there and at St. Mays, Iowa, prior to 1857. A natural-born politician, he was destined to play a prominent part in the politics of the early days of Platte County.

The headquarters for the transaction of business of the Columbus Land Company was first located at Florence, Nebraska, and in 1857, transferred to Columbus. At that time, John Reck was president and J. P. Becker, secretary.

At the territorial legislative session, in the winter of 1857, Mr. Reck was elected doorkeeper, and in the year 1858, Platte County being entitled to one representative, John Rickly and John Reck were opposing candidates, and John Reck carried the election by a few votes.

In 1858, Mr. Reck was a candidate for the Democratic nomination and was defeated by S. H. Fowler. C. H. Whaley was nominated by the Republicans, and Mr. Reck ran as an independent and was elected by a fair majority. In 1859, the race was again between Reck and Rickly, resulting in the election of John Rickly.

In time, Mr. Reck changed his politics and became a Republican. He had heretofore had sufficient political influence to secure a position as doorkeeper or sergeant-at-arms during the sessions of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, of which he was not a member, and when the Internal Revenue Law was passed, he received the appointment of deputy assessor, which he held at the time of his death, in the fall of 1863.

He was buried in the old cemetery on the hill, southeast of the Loup River Public Power House. Years later, the officers of the Columbus Cemetery Association removed his remains to the Columbus Cemetery.


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