Dobytown, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Dobytown is a ghost town
in Kearney County
, Nebraska
, United States
, three miles west of Fort Kearny
. Officially named Kearney City, the community was established in 1859. Its common name of Dobytown was derived from the resemblance of its twelve to fifteen earthen buildings to adobe
structures. Although the community no longer exists, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974. The site is located at an altitude of 2,129 feet (649 m).
Like many new frontier communities, Dobytown evolved to meet the needs of the thousands of soldiers, traders, teamsters and pioneers
traveling west. Gambling
, liquor and disreputable men and women were its main attractions. Dobytown also served as the major outfitting point west of the Missouri River
, the center of frontier transportation from 1860 to 1866. A Pony Express
station was located in Dobytown and it was the first county seat
of Kearney County
.
One of Dobytown's most famous visitors, General William Tecumseh Sherman
described the horrible whiskey he was served there as tanglefoot.
The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad
in 1869 reduced the travel along the trail and by the fort. The U.S. Army issued an order for abandonment of Fort Kearny
on 22 May 1871. This caused Dobytown to be abandoned.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Kearney County
Kearney County, Nebraska
-History:Kearney County was formed in 1860. It was named after Fort Kearny, which in turn was named after Brigade General Stephen W. Kearny.-Demographics:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, three miles west of Fort Kearny
Fort Kearny
Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U.S. during the middle and late 19th century. The outpost was located along the Oregon Trail near present-day Kearney, Nebraska, which took its name from the fort .-Origins and various missions of the...
. Officially named Kearney City, the community was established in 1859. Its common name of Dobytown was derived from the resemblance of its twelve to fifteen earthen buildings to adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
structures. Although the community no longer exists, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974. The site is located at an altitude of 2,129 feet (649 m).
Like many new frontier communities, Dobytown evolved to meet the needs of the thousands of soldiers, traders, teamsters and pioneers
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
traveling west. Gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, liquor and disreputable men and women were its main attractions. Dobytown also served as the major outfitting point west of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, the center of frontier transportation from 1860 to 1866. A Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
station was located in Dobytown and it was the first county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Kearney County
Kearney County, Nebraska
-History:Kearney County was formed in 1860. It was named after Fort Kearny, which in turn was named after Brigade General Stephen W. Kearny.-Demographics:...
.
One of Dobytown's most famous visitors, General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
described the horrible whiskey he was served there as tanglefoot.
The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in 1869 reduced the travel along the trail and by the fort. The U.S. Army issued an order for abandonment of Fort Kearny
Fort Kearny
Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U.S. during the middle and late 19th century. The outpost was located along the Oregon Trail near present-day Kearney, Nebraska, which took its name from the fort .-Origins and various missions of the...
on 22 May 1871. This caused Dobytown to be abandoned.