Hitchcock County was formed in 1873 by proclamation of Governor Furnas, and was named for Phineas Warren Hitchcock, one of Nebraska's U.S. Senators at the time of the county's formation.
According to Johnson’s History of Nebraska 1880, "G. C. Gessleman, located near the mouth of Blackwood Creek, on section 15, town 3, range 31, in the latter part of February, 1873, and has the honor of being the pioneer settler of the County. In the latter part of May, following Mr. Gessleman's settlement, his solitude was broken by the arrival of about a dozen other settlers..."
We've compiled several resources to help you with your research in Hitchcock County and beyond! These include old newspapers and vital records, maps, obituary extracts, transcriptions of historical accounts, photos, and links to various other sites.
Sadly, we've all been there at some point in the quest to discover our roots - the dreaded "brick wall" or elusive ancestor that stops our research in its tracks. We understand how frustrating and disappointing this can be, and we're here to offer hope and help!
The Hitchcock County research query system is two-fold. First, it allows visitors to submit information about their brick wall(s) with Hitchcock County ties, in hopes that others may be able to help. Second, it allows other researchers the possibility of connecting with possible family members.
The NEGenWeb Project and USGenWeb Project are made possible by the contributions of countless volunteers. There are always opportunities available for anyone with a helping heart and willingness to share their time, knowledge and resources!
This website is part of the NEGenWeb Project and the USGenWeb Project®. The USGenWeb Project began in 1996 when a group of genealogists decided to create a free online resource for genealogical research. Over the last 25 years, because of the efforts of thousands of volunteers, it has become a network of over 3,000 individual sites, offering county and state resources that include old photos, maps and documents, helpful links, and more - for free!
This website is managed by Jennifer Stingley, Hitchcock County coordinator for the NEGenWeb Project. Any comments, questions, corrections, or suggestions can be emailed to her at jenn.saenger@gmail.com.
Additionally, you may contact the Nebraska state coordinator or the assistant state coordinator.