little known first

SPECIAL NOTE



The information throughout this area was taken from numerous sources, all of which can be found at the bottom of the pages. However, a special 'Thank You' must be said to Martha Turner.

Miss Turner, a former resident of Columbus, worked with the Nebraska State Historical Library, and has furnished a number of photos in this area. Miss Turner was the daughter of M. K. Turner, editor of the Columbus Journal newspaper.


1st cemetary
Columbus Telegram August 8th, 1909

The Hon. George W. Brown, father of Ellis Brown, station master of the Union Pacific R. R. at Columbus, related a story, which will be news to the average citizen of Columbus, and especially to those of younger years. The general understanding is that the city cemetery was chosen by the first comers as a burial ground. Mr. Geo. W. Brown states that when he purchased his old farm (now the Carl Rhode place), two or three miles north and east of the city, he found thereon a cemetery, with nearly thirty graves. Most of the graves contained the bodies of emigrants, who died on the old California trail, but some of them contained the bodies of the earliest settlers in Columbus. The early cemetery was located on a high hill in conformity with the custom of those days, when a cemetery was seldom or never found in a valley. It is probable that most of the bodies were removed from the old burying ground when the city cemetery was laid out.

We are informed by an old settler that as late as 1879-1880 there were a number of graves in the yards of people living south of the St. Mary's hospital, in the fields and near many homes.

John Reck, a born politician and diplomat,, died 1863, and was laid to rest in the old cemetery on the hill, which later was part of the Fred Blaser farm.
(History of Platte County, Past and Present, Vol. I, p. 228).

You can find the above located HERE.



1st flag

Mrs. Myer had been born in Ireland, but was always a warm American patriot. She was the second white woman to settle in Platte County, Mrs. J. C. Wolfel being the first. Mrs. Myer worked very hard. The family farmed on Shell Creek and homesteaded on the Loup for eleven years. While on the Loup some people found a three-day old infant that had been left on the prairie to die. Mrs. Myer, not having any children of her own, adopted the babe and reared it as her son. John W. Myer died in 1912. History does not tell us on what occasion, but it is accepted that Mrs. Ellen Myer, the Irish immigrant, made by hand the first United States flag in Platte County. She died in 1918, being 90 years old at her death.


1st wedding

Police Judge John Ratterman was county judge of Platte County for many years, and to him the author is indebted for information concerning the first marriages in Platte County.

In the oldest record book in the county judge's office, a quaint volume written in legal form long since obsolete, Judge Ratterman found the first recorded marriage in Platte County to be that of John Will and Marie Rickert, on July 5, 1858.

The permit to wed is unique in form and character. It reads: "Territory of Nebraska, Platte County. Whereas, it has been duly shown to my satisfaction that there is no legal impediment existing to the marriage of Mr. John Will and Miss Marie Rickert, both of Platte County, therefore, marriage license is this day issued."

The permit is signed by A. P. Pattison, as County Judge.

The marriage certificate itself certainly contains no red tape. It simply reads: "I here certify that I did on the fifth day of July, 1858, solemnize the marriage of Mr. John Will and Miss Marie Rickert, both of Platte County, at the house of Peter Meyer in said county, in presence of Mrs. Ellen Meyer." The certificate bears the signature of C. B. Stillman as justice of the peace.

The Will-Rickert license was the only one issued in 1858. The next record was that of James E. North and Nelly Arnold, issued on February 17, 1859, when George Hewitt was county judge. These two young people were married on horseback on the streets of Columbus.

Four licenses to wed were issued in 1859. The next year had only three. Of the eight marriages in Platte County up to that time, only one was performed by a minister. In 1861 five permits were given, and seven in 1862. At the present time the figure is from two to four permits a week, proving that Cupid, with more targets to shoot at, is considerably busier and luckier than he was 75 years ago.


(the above article is displayed as written, including all typing & spelling errors)

The two historical notes above are located HERE.