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Tekamah, Nebraska
A claim was staked to establish Tekamah as a town in October 1854. On March 14, 1855, Tekamah became an incorporated city by an act of the first territorial legislature of Nebraska.
A peculiar method produced the town's name. According to the diary of Colonel B.R. Folsom, who worked with the original townsite company, Tekamah was literally chosen by the luck of the draw. When the decision had been reached to make the location a settlement, a problem arose in naming it. It was agreed that each of the exploration parties should write their favorite name on a slip of paper and drop it into a hat. The first name drawn out would then become the official name of the community. The first name drawn was "Tekamah."
A surveyor, William Byers, contributed the name. An Indian translation defines Tekamah as meaning "big cottonwoods," and this is appropriate due to the large cottonwood trees that grew along the banks of Tekamah creek and were scattered over the territory. Another translation found through research says the name "Teka-mah" comes from the Egyptian or Arabic language and means "bloody battlefield." Researchers claim that centuries ago many tribes of Indians collided with a pale-faced foe in the Tekamah valley. During the years following the settling of the area, documentation was found indicating that many exposed human bones were found. The translation in either language is appropriate as there is evidence enough for both. It is unclear which translation prompted Byers to suggest it as a contender. To this day Tekamah is a name that belongs exclusively to Burt County. Pronounced TEK-A-mah
More About Tekamah-
| ABOUT TEKAMAH "Tekamah?" people ask. "How do you spell it? What does it mean?" There are several ideas. Some say it means "Big Cottonwood," others, "Flat Waters," or "Bloody Battle Field." Still others suggest it is the misspelled name of a mountain in California. To people living here, and many who have lived here, the name has a special meaning -- "home." Nine men, looking for a place to start a settlement, left the river-town of Omaha in October 1854 traveling northerly to find a location that had all the natural resources a settlement needed: good water, an ample supply of trees for wood, rich fertile soil, abundant wild life and sand stone. They marked their claim in the name of the "Nebraska Stock Company." The name "Tekamah" was drawn from a hat, in which each of the nine men had placed his choice. If they knew what it meant, none of them wrote it down. On October 15, 1854, all qualified voters were registered. With the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the territory needed to organize. The majority of these men returned on election day to cast their votes. Col. Benjamin R. Folsom was elected councilman, and Gen. Robinson and H. C. Purple were chosen to represent the settlement in the new House of Representatives. Burt County also organized, naming Tekamah as county seat. In 1855 Tekamah incorporated as a city. As spring arrived, building began in earnest. Cottonwood trees east of town were cut and dragged to building sites, and the whirr of the sawmill could be heard for miles, sand stone was quarried for foundations and town began to take shape. Soon it was learned that two boys had been killed by Indians near Fontanelle. Col. Folsom sent a message to Territorial Governor Mark Izard asking for help. General J.M. Thayer, in response organized a company from the men in the town, and helped to build a blockhouse, for the protection of the citizens. Indians were observed nearby many times, but no more incidents were recorded. The blockhouse served as the first courthouse and, when needed, the attic served as a jail. To provide funds to operate the county, a tax was levied in 1855 on a total valuation of $13,000. The seven-mill levy accounted for the collection of $91.04. A weekly mail route from Omaha to Tekamah was established in 1855. Soon Tekamah had a store, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. The first birth and death occurred in 1855. The first newspaper, called the "Burt County Pilot," was printed in 1856. The first school was established in 1857, as well as the "Bank of Tekamah," which was one of the famous wildcat banks flourishing in the Midwest before the Civil War. The first church was built by Presbyterians in 1870. With the arrival of the hearty settlers, who set up shops or engaged in the main industry of agriculture, the town grew and prospered. Several churches, a school, and a number of banks were organized in 1873, known as the "Boom Year." The town continued to flourish as the Chicago & North Western Railroad was completed from Omaha to Tekamah in 1876. The line was discontinued just over 100 years later in 1979. By the 1880s Tekamah had an active social life. An opera house was built in 1884, where political debates, plays, commencement exercises, revival meetings, dances, and roller skating parties were held. On June 1, 1904, a tornado demolished the building and it was not rebuilt. Tekamah had a good brickyard for many years. A flourmill and a canning factory, which processed corn and tomatoes, was in operation in 1886. After operating only two years, the factory closed. The Burt County Old Settlers and Pioneer Reunion was organized in 1903. The following year the reunion was held in Folsom Park, named in honor of one of the town’s founders. Over 3,000 attended. July 4th, 1910, over 10,000 people came to town to see the Tekamah Harness races. A Carnegie library was built in 1912 through the cooperation of citizens and the Tekamah Women's Club. Tekamah reached a peak population of 1,925 in 1940. The population has remained near 1,900 since that time. A 100 year centennial celebration was heldin1954, and 150 year celebration 2004. The citizens of Tekamah have watched the town grow from a tiny outpost on the prairie into the city of today. It has withstood floods and fire, drought and tornados, depressions, periods of inflation and young people marching off to many wars, some never returning. Through it all the town lives on. Excerpted from material by Bette Stork, 614 North 17 Street, Tekamah, NE 68061, and Bonnie Newell, curator of the Burt County Museum. |
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