Anselmo, NE

Victoria Creek emerged from the ground northwest of where Anselmo is now. It flowed southeast about four or five miles to where it turned toward the northeast. There it flowed past a large lagoon. Then it turned southeast again to be joined by a dry creek that drained a large area to the southwest. The little stream continued toward the southeast.

What a beautiful sight this must have been. Great numbers of waterfowl were nesting around the lagoon, prairie chicken and grouse were scattered over the hills. Elk, deer and antelope were grazing on the lush valley grasses. Buffalo were rolling in the numerous buffalo wallows to rid themselves of the biting insects that followed the herd. There was only one tree visible in the valley. A large willow on the creek bank that the animals could not get to.

Then the climate changes. Less rain fell in the area, the springs flow diminished. What little water coming from the springs soaked into the dry soil before it went very far. Old timers tell us that the creek flows underground to emerge again farther down the stream.

The buffalo were hunted for their hides and were nearly exterminated. The elk, deer and antelope furnished meat for the settlers. Grouse and prairie chicken were hunted and shipped to eastern markets.

In the 1870s large herds of cattle were brought into the area until at one time it was estimated there were 20,000 head of cattle grazing the hills around this little creek.

The first settler came in 1879. Many more came in the 80s, until most of the land was taken by 1886. The settlers had few cattle, they were farmers. They raised good crops in the early 80s and there was very little demand for the grain. Then the railroad came in 1886.

Many men, together with their horses, were employed in building the grade. A large cut was dug through a big hill to the east. This provided a very good market for the farmers grain. They could now ship their grain by rail to other markets.

A civil engineer was employed by the Lincoln Townsite Company to lay out the town sites along the new Burlington and Missouri rail line. His name was Anselmo Smith. When he arrived in the area we have been describing he liked the beauty of it so well he gave the new town his name – Anselmo. Only one other town in the United States has a similar name, San Anselmo, California.

The little town of Anselmo sits astride a little dog creek which at times becomes a large creek flooding the town. No lives have been lost due to these floods, but property damage has been great. Steps have been taken to divert the water around the town with some success. But the little creek from the northwest still poses a threat to Anselmo.