The Gage County Historical Society has a willing staff available to guide the genealogist in finding those Gage County relatives. The people of Gage County were and are today an important part of the growth and prosperity of the county. Early settlers and later homesteaders made Gage County home, planting hardwood trees, orchards and building substantial homes. Gage County, Nebraska was listed as a destination point at Ellis Island and several different ethnic groups made Gage County home. Just a few of these groups included German, Danish, Russian and Welsh. The Society's collection includes obituaries, county history books, cemetery and marriage records, photographs, numerous newspaper articles and a whole host of other possible options to guide the researcher in their quest. The Gage County Historical Society's extensive photographic collection includes people, houses, buildings, businesses and street scenes to name a few. Begin your genealogical research at the Gage County Museum.
Gage County came alive when the Burlington Missouri railroad built a line from Lincoln to Beatrice in 1871. The Union Pacific arrived in 1879 and the Rock Island in the 1880’s. With the expansion of the railroad came immigrants looking to start a new life on the fertile farmland in Nebraska. Early Gage County homesteaders were the Kilpatrick Brothers who contributed in a big way to railroad boiling and Western expansion. Working as railroad contractors, the brothers built over 3,339 miles of rail line west of the Mississippi River, plus 34 miles of water pipe line, two reservoirs for a privately owned company and a tunnel and reservoir for the United States Government.
All requests by US mail require a SASE. E-mail request do not.
gagecountymuseum@beatricene.com
Gage County Historical Society
PO Box 793
Beatrice NE 68310
Historical Books for staff to research
History of Nebraska by A.T. Andreas 1882
Portrait and Biographical Album of Gage County by Chapman Bros. 1888
History of Gage County by Hugh Dobbs 1918
Gage County History by Gage County Historical Society 1983
Beatrice City and Farmers Directories: 1886, 1888 (no farmers directory), 1890, 1892 (incomplete), 1896, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1909, 1911, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1954 on
Other:
Cemetery Records throughout entire county
Marriage records 1907 and earlier
Photographic collection including people, businesses, street scenes etc.
Obituaries filed according to name. Other newspaper clippings filled according to event, business, industry etc.
Contact gagecountymuseum@beatricene.com for more information
Gage County Historical Society Publications
Make your checks payable to:
Gage County Historical Society, P.O. Box 793, Beatrice NE 68310-0793
Beatrice Illustrated first published by Beatrice Express newspaper in 1888. Re-published by Gage County Historical Society in 1999. 62 pages. Hard bound. Includes sketches and history of the buildings, businesses, churches and organizations in Beatrice in 1888. $22.00 + 1.54 + $23.54 shipping and handling add $4.00
Portrait and Biographical Album of Gage County by Chapman Bros. 780 pages including sketches of farms and people, biographies of Gage County residents and presidents up to 1888. First published in 1888, republished by the Gage County Historical Society in 1997. $75.00 + 5.25 tax = $80.25 shipping and handling $6.00
The Queen City of the State - Beatrice, Nebraska Souvenir Album Published in 2001 by Gage County Historical Society as a 30th Anniversary Project. Etchings of Beatrice, Nebraska buildings were first published in booklet form in 1891 an 1881. The history of these building were added by the Historical Society when the books were reprinted. Center foldout of Beatrice in 1887. 58 pages. Hardbound. $22.00 + $1.54=$23.54 shipping and handling $4.00
History of Gage County by Hugh Dobbs 1,094 pages plus index. The most complete history of Gage County prior to 1918. Includes drawings of buildings and people, biographies, history of businesses, towns and organizations. First published in 1918, republished by the Gage County Historical Society in 1995. $99.95 + 7.00 tax = $106.95 shipping and handling add $6.00
Gage County History published by the Gage County Historical Society in 1983. 362 pages. Hard bound. Includes biographies of Gage County residents and brief history of the area. $35.00 + 2.45 = 37.45 shipping and handling add $6.00
Queen City of the Blue by Zoa Ann Worden 153 page abbreviated history of Beatrice including an 1881 birdseye view drawing of Beatrice. Paperback. Published in 1976. $9.50 + .67 tax = $10.17 shipping & handling add $4.00
Homestead Centennial Souvenir Program by Homestead Centennial Committee 96 page history of homesteading and brief history of Beatrice. Includes ads from Beatrice in the 1960's. Published in 1962. Paperback. 75c + .06 tax = 81c shipping and handling add $2.00
Commemorative History of the Gage County Courthouse Published in 1991 in honor of the Centennial Rededication. This book is the most complete history of the Gage County Courthouse. Paperback. 74 Pages. $2.00 + 1.44= $2.14 shipping and handling add $2.00
Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railroad Co., Beatrice, Nebraska first published in 1890 re-published by the Gage County Historical Society in 1996. Paperback. This was a promotional book to entice people to move to Beatrice. $10.00 + .70 = $10.70 shipping and handling $4.00
Missouri Pacific Northwestern: A history of the Kansas City Northwestern Railroad by I.E. Quastler Published 1994. Includes pictures and maps. 136 pages with index.. Paperback. $29.95 + $2.10=$32.05 shipping and handling $4.00
For more information: gagecountymuseum@beatricene.com