History

On the eastern fringe of Seward County, the hillocks and rolling terrain are the result of a prehistoric glacier which lumbered through the area depositing pink granite rocks and boulders from regions far north.

As history came to be recorded, the huge expanse of land in the middle of America was explored by the French, English and Spanish, including Coronado who traveled here in 1541, many years before the Pilgrims set sail for Massachusetts. Log books reveal Coronado's men were enamored with the "very good waters and much grass, plums, mulberries, nuts, melons and grapes," but their leader, preferring Mexico, led them south instead.

The land remained most pristine for the next 300 years with the Pawnee, Omaha, Otoe and Sioux Indian tribes cohabiting with the bison, antelope and prairie chickens.

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase and in 1854, Nebraska became a territory which was divided into a dozen or so counties. In 1855, the Territorial Legislature subdivided the counties into more manageable units. Originally named Green County, three commissioners were appointed to organize the area 24 miles in each direction, 57 sq. miles, 60 miles west of the Missouri River and 40 miles south of the Platte River. The efforts of two of the gentlemen, Joseph L. Sharp and LaFayette Nucolls, were relatively unsuccessful in forming an "emigration company" to encourage settlement in the area.

A group of Danish colonists did appear, however, settling in Greene County along Plum Creek, southeast of the present city of Seward. The natives, fierce to protect their homeland, drove the Danish out.

In 1859, the discovery of gold created a great exodus across the plains, including two brothers and their families, Thomas and James West. They didn't get much further than the banks of the West Blue River, where they pitched their tents, and although menaced by the natives, didn't budge. Evidence exists that their leader, Tom West, possessed great diplomatic skills and chose pacifism over pandemonium, setting up a trading post. Thus, "West Mills' was Greene County's first permanent settlement.

The Civil War began and although the exact identity of the county's namesake is not known, it is generally acknowledged that "Mr. Greene" was somewhat sympathetic with the confederate cause. Green County became Seward County in honor of Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State and freedom advocate, William H. Seward.

The end of the Civil War brought another wave of pioneers across the plains seeking new lives and fresh starts. The west fork of the Big Blue River proved to be a popular spot for people to congregate, where the abundance of good water and the black soil proved strong lures. The people began to think about formally organizing and called upon the nearby Lancaster County commissioners to order an election of Seward County officials. The first commissioners were Williams J. Imlay, William J. Thompson and W.W. Parker. The first county clerk was Thomas West. The population grew from about 25 in 1864 to nearly 300 in 1867. When Lewis Moffitt officially registered the city's plans in May 1868, Seward was already a busy community with its own mill. Seward incorporated in April of 1870 and after a contentious debate about where the county seat should be located, won out over two other locations. Roads were developed and the first Midland Pacific Railroad train rolled into town in 1873. The town has survived flood, blizzards, train wrecks, a grasshopper plague, and a tornado which killed eight and leveled an area sixteen blocks long and three blocks wide. Its backbone strong and its citizens of sturdy stock, Seward's brick streets and historic buildings virtually echo with its pioneer heritage.

North Side of Seward Square 1878

Seward Today