History of Farnam

The History of Farnam Nebraska

Farnam is located in the extreme southwest corner of Dawson County. Before Farnam was established, there was a small settlement called Keystone only a few miles to the East of where Farnam is currently located. In April 1883, eleven people arrived by train from Pennsylvania to Plum Creek, now Lexington. Once arriving in Plum Creek, they traveled to find land to homestead on near where the railroad was to be built. They found such a spot and named it Keystone. More and more people came to settle in Keystone buy as people where joining the community, others where leaving. When the railroad was built, to the residents of Keystones dismay, it was placed to far south of Keystone to keep there tiny community a float. Farnam’s town site was purchased by the railroad for a turntable for the supplying of their trains. For what ever the reasons the railroad didn’t build near Keystone, the residents had worked to hard to let a few miles com between them and their dreams of a better life.

Farnam was named in honor of railroad builder and philanthropist, Henry Farnam. He was born and raised in New York only to later become a permanent contributor to several canals and railroad projects.

Business and families have come and gone since the development of Farnam but one thing has always stayed, the passion and beliefs that the people that live here have. We might be a small town but we love every inch of it and hope that you will see what we see. So enjoy your stay in our community driven small town. Kick off your shoes, play in the grass, let your hair down and relax. Smiles and laughter are our goal for all our visitors!!

"Farnam.....From These Beginnings We Grew"

By The Farnam History Committee

In 1886 the pioneers of Farnam came into a country that had very few frame houses. According to the Farnam Echo of 1936 it was said that you could see as far as you could across the plains, perhaps a distance of twelve or fifteen miles and see nothing but grass and the sky. There were no trees and the sod houses were so dark in color they were hard to see. In wide open spaces such as this on sloping land that was near the Plum Creek, Farnam began!! To help Farnam grow, businesses in Farnam grew and prospered making the community do the same. Just a few of those many businesses included:

The Farnam Caprice

S.F. Parker------Publisher

Published every Saturday

E.B. Dunham

Notary Public

Farnam Hotel

James H. Wood----Proprietor

The Old and Reliable

and MANY other such businesses came and went over the next 100 years. For more infomation about Farnam and to see beautiful pictures of the yester years, order "Farnam.......From These Beginnings We Grew" By contacting the following:

Farnam Senior Center

214 Main St.

Farnam Ne, 69029

or by calling

308-569-2359

Please Reference "Farnam.....From These Beginnings We Grew"

This book also contains the local Families History that lived here and currantly still live in this area. A wonderful read for anyone from Farnam or those who are searching their family history.

As a closing, just as in the book, "Farnam...From These Beginnings We Grew", a poem written by an old pioneer of Farnam.

Reverie of a Pioneer

By Claude D. Hayden

As I sit by my hearth at twilight and visions of yore appear

I'm a boy again on the prairie, out on the old frontier.

I dream of the waving blue-stem of game and buffalo green

And the blaze of Indian summer softened by falls moonbeam.

Again from the door of our soddy I gaze o'er the rolling plain,

To where the covered wagon, like a ship on the ocean main,

Lumbers and rolls to westward on toward the setting sun,

Bound for the land of promise, hopes for the new life begun.

As I sit and look in the embers, phantom forms appear

Horses and long horned cattle coming from far and near,

Over the hills from the valley and across the plum creek flats,

I fancy McPherson troopers, down from the fort on the Platte.

There the stagecoach driver, stops with the settlers mail

On again to the southward, down the Arapahoe trail.

Here a band of redmen mounted on ponies true,

Urge their tired steeds northward on toward the haunts of the Sioux.

Again I saddle my pony and speed across the divide,

Across the Deer Creek valley, out on the other side.

Over the ridge to Plum Creek, on to the hills afar,

Searching for cows and yearling branded the circle bar.

I hear the tramp of bison and see the flight of deer.

While out on the boundless prairie, cattle roam far and near.

Up from the hills to windward booms the voice of prairie hen,

While the wild goose wings on northward, beyond the abodes of men.

Time has marched steadily onward and the longhorn roams no more

And the rollicking song of the cowboy is lost in the motor's roar.

The winding trail of cattle and the ruts of wagon wheels

Are replaced with gravel and concrete - cross ties and ribbons of steel.

But OH! how I long for the prairie, the bountiful gift to men

But it's gone with the deer and the bison to never return again

If perchance time could turn backward as though by a fairy hand

I would live again with my homefolks, out on the prairie land.

Check out our Farnam Cemetery website by clicking here:

Farnam Cemetery Website

.........the little town that CAN!!