Phelps County Nebraska

PHELPS COUNTY

Phelps county was organized and its boundaries defined by an act approved February 11, 1873, and was named in honor of Captain William Phelps, an early settler in this part of Nebraska, and whose son-in-law, C. J. Dilworth, served a term as attorney general of the state. Mr. Phelps was born in 1808 in New York state and for many years was captain of a steamboat on the Missouri river.

• Atlanta. This town, in Industry precinct, was organized in 1888. It was probably named after Atlanta, Georgia, or perhaps after Atlanta, Illinois, which was named after the city in Georgia.
  
• Bertrand. This town was organized in December, 1885. It was named after an official of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy raflroad.
  
• Funk. The town of Funk began its history in 1887. It was named in honor of Mr. P. C. Funk, one of the oldest settlers in the county who is at present a resident of the town. Mr. Funk is one of the few Grand Army of the Republic veterans left in this vicinity.
  
• Haydon. An inland locality in Anderson precinct. The name is probably local in origin.
  
• Holcomb. An inland locality in Center precinct, probably named for a local resident.
  
• Holdrege. Hoidrege was named in honor of George W. Holdrege, superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroad. The town was established in 1883, just after the railroad was built through the vicinity. It is the county seat of Phelps county.
  
• Loomis. This town was named for N. H. Loomis who was associated with the Burlington railroad in the fall of 1885, when the town was organized.
  
• Sacramento. This place was probably named after Sacramento, California. The name is from the Spanish language and means sacrament.
  
• Westmark. An inland locality in Westmark precinct, probably named for a local settler.
  
• Williamsburg. This inland town was formerly the county seat of Phelps county. It was named for William Dilworth, a son of C. J. Dilworth. Mrs. C. J. Dilworth was a daughter of Captain William Phelps for whom Phelps county was named. The precinct is also named Williamsbu