COLFAX COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Colfax County, Nebraska: A Genealogical Overview

Situated in the fertile Platte River Valley of eastern Nebraska, Colfax County is a landscape defined by its rich agricultural productivity and a deep, enduring cultural heritage brought by waves of Czech immigrants. The county’s history is inextricably linked to the westward expansion fueled by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Homestead Act. For genealogists, research in Colfax County often involves tracing families back to Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) and understanding the community-building traditions they brought to the Nebraska prairie.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding the county’s origins from a larger entity and its early name change is critical for locating the earliest records.

  • 1867: County Formed: The county was first established as Calhoun County on February 15, 1867. The name was officially changed to Colfax County on April 3, 1869.
  • Parent County: It was formed from the northern portion of Platte County. Any research concerning individuals or land transactions in the area prior to 1867 must be conducted in the records of Platte County.
  • Subsequent Formations: The boundaries of Colfax County have remained stable since its formal organization in 1869.
  • Name Origin: The county was renamed in honor of Schuyler Colfax, who was the U.S. Speaker of the House at the time and was soon to become Vice President of the United States under Ulysses S. Grant.
  • County Seat History: The city of Schuyler, also named for Schuyler Colfax, was established as the county seat in 1869 and has held that distinction ever since. The first courthouse was a simple frame structure, replaced by the current, historic courthouse which was dedicated in 1922.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the historical homeland of the Pawnee Nation, who maintained large earth lodge villages throughout the Platte, Loup, and Republican River valleys. The cession of their lands and their eventual removal to Indian Territory in the 1870s opened the area to widespread settlement.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The driving forces behind settlement were the Homestead Act of 1862 and the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad through the Platte Valley in 1866. The railroad founded the town of Schuyler and actively promoted the region’s cheap, fertile farmland to prospective settlers in the eastern U.S. and Europe.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Czech Immigration: Beginning in the 1870s, Colfax County became a primary destination for immigrants from Bohemia. They established tight-knit farming communities and towns such as Clarkson (known as the “Czech Capital of Nebraska”) and Howells. Their language, food, music, and social customs came to define the county’s cultural identity, a legacy that remains prominent today.
    • Agricultural Powerhouse: The flat, rich soil of the Platte Valley made Colfax County an ideal location for agriculture. The initial homesteads focused on corn and wheat, which later diversified into a major livestock and cattle-feeding industry.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, many of which reflect the county’s significant immigrant population.

  • County Courthouse: The Colfax County Courthouse, located at 411 E 11th Street, Schuyler, NE 68661, is the central repository for most historical records.
    • County Clerk: This office holds land records (deeds, mortgages), school census records, and vital records (birth, marriage, death).
    • Clerk of the District Court: Maintains court dockets, divorce decrees, and crucially for this county, naturalization records. The declarations and final papers for immigrants seeking citizenship are a vital resource.
    • County Judge (County Court): Manages all probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and guardianship papers dating from the county’s formation.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Nebraska began in late 1904. Records from 1904 to the present can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The Colfax County Clerk holds some local registers created prior to 1904, though these can be incomplete.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1867 to the present are held by the Colfax County Clerk.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Schuyler Public Library: Offers local history resources, including microfilm of local newspapers like the Schuyler Sun.
    • Nebraska State Historical Society (History Nebraska): Located in Lincoln, this is the premier institution for Nebraska genealogy. It holds a vast collection of newspapers on microfilm, state and county records, manuscripts, and photographs.
    • Clarkson Historical Society: A local museum and resource center in Clarkson focused on preserving the area’s unique Czech heritage.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Stanton County (north)
    • Cuming County (northeast)
    • Dodge County (east)
    • Butler County (south)
    • Platte County (west)
    • Madison County (northwest)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks