What can you find on the SWNGS website?

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska Genealogical Society

The last few articles have been about researching the SWNGS website's postings for the McCook Republican, McCook Democrat and McCook Tribune papers that society members have extracted for the births, marriages and deaths in these papers during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Those extractions are just a part of what can be found or is researchable from the website.

If your ancestors were landowners in 1905, SWNGS website has an index listing by precinct of the 2,878 people shown to own land during that year in Red Willow County. As an example, the Danbury Precinct had as landholders: Gotlieb and Emma J. Weyeneth owned 600 acres, with a residence on the largest parcel of 480 acres. Between Frank, J.A., B.E., J.P., and James C. the Lafferty family held nearly 900 acres. Several other names are familiar: Newberry, Pew, McGuire, Ashton, and Rittenhouse. Others such as Karthauser and Paulz seem to have disappeared from Red Willow County surnames. Red Willow County has 20 precincts, all of which are fully indexed.

The 1890 Civil War Pensioners and Widows Index for Red Willow County is available on our website. In that index the list includes the name of the veteran, if deceased his widow's name, the township resided in, the rank and company of the veteran and what unit he served in. A few examples of our GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Pensioners: Elias Jacobs (Deceased), Widow, Mary A. from the Perry Precinct, a Private, Company A of the 31st Iowa Infantry; Peter Groves, Red Willow Precinct, Sergeant in Company D of the 40th Iowa Infantry; Thomas H. Bales of Willow Grove Precinct, a Corporal in Company E of the 57th Indiana Precinct; William N. Phillips of Perry Precinct, a Private in Company C of the 13th Pennsylvania Calvary. Some, but not all of our Civil War Veterans came to Nebraska to claim their land grants and you can cross check your ancestors name from the veterans list against the aforementioned 1905 landowners index.

Another available research list is the WWI, Red Willow County Draft Registry. This comprises, by surname, over 2800 men from our county. This registry is very interesting because it lists by name each man's birth, birthplace, residential address, heritage (I found two men of Hispanic decent both born in Mexico) height, build, eye and hair color. Three examples are: Adam Baker, born 1/26/1891 in Russia, McCook resident, white, medium height and build, gray eyes and brown hair; George Moss, born 11/18/1892 in Fenton, Illinois living at 710 West 3rd, McCook, medium height, slender, brown eyes, brown hair; Conrad S. Lebsack born 8/26/1883 in Russia, living in South McCook, white, tall, medium build, gray eyes and light brown hair.

Are you interested in these research options and how to incorporate them into your family tree? Our beginning Legacy Family Tree lessons were well received last Saturday. The second lesson is Saturday, Feb. 16, starting at 1 p.m. at the SWNGS library, Merit Building, 110 West C Street, Suite M-3. Contact me for details at 308-345-1583 if you wish to attend or send an email to sherriedack@yahoo.com