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1882 | Pamphlet
B. & M. R. R. Land in Nebraska [German Language edition]
This translation of an 1882 German language document published by the Burlington Railroad Land Commissioner has an index of Nebraska land agents, describes the lands available for purchase, and presents a list of 12 advantages to living in the Nebraska. The railroad also touts its role in settling the region, noting that it "open[s] the land, develop[s] traffic with the rest of the world, and connect[s] resident[s] to the marketplace". It also claims that "the progress in this region has been remarkable since the building of the Burlington road ten years ago, the district has been rapidly populated with the best and solidest class of immigrant", showing both the railroad companies' targeting of immigrants as land buyers and their perception of their role in settling the Plains.
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December 23, 1878 | Letter
Letter from D. F. Vanniss to George P. Cather, December 23, 1878
On December 23, 1878 D.F. Vanniss informs George P. Cather of a death in his family delaying his trip to Nebraska. Vanniss wants to purchase a productive 160 acres of railroad land and asks Cather if he can buy it before he arrives to ensure that it is not sold to someone else. He tells Cather that he plans to make Webster County his new home, and wonders about the possibility of growing fruit in Nebraska-requesting that Cather send him a report of the temperature on New Year's Day.
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October 5, 1878 | Letter
Letter from B. F. Noble to George P. Cather, [1878, Oct 5]
In a letter dated October 5, 1878, B.F. Noble writes to George P. Cather from Franklin County, Ohio, about the relative quality of the land available in Nebraska. Noble particularly wants land "within 2 or 3 miles of Railroad and Church." He indicates that his interest in Nebraska land was spurred by publications put forth by a railroad company.
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August 8, 1877 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, August 8, 1877
In this August 8, 1877 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, Joseph Fischer purchases 160 acres in Lancaster County, Nebraska for $7.00 per acre. An immigrant from Bohemia, Fischer took advantage of the railroad's 10-year credit plan to finance his new purchase. Railroad credit plans enabled immigrants and others who lacked ready cash to buy land.
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February 10, 1877 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, Febrauary 10, 1877
In this February 10, 1877 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, 80 acres of land in Lancaster County, Nebraska are sold for $7.00 per acre. This immigrant took advantage of railroad lands to increase his property holdings, as he already owned land in Nebraska.
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June 26, 1876 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, June 26, 1876
In this June 26, 1876 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, a Bohemian purchases 80 acres in Lancaster County, Nebraska, only eight days after arriving in the United States and four days after arriving in Nebraska. In a little over a week, this immigrant used the railroad as a means of transport across the country and as a vehicle of acquiring property.
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May 5, 1876 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, August Wilke
In this application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, August Wilke purchases 40 acres in Lancaster County, Nebraska for $5.50 per acre. A German immigrant who had lived in the United States for 16 years, Wilke already owned a homestead in the section adjacent to the one purchased here. Railroad land sales offered immigrants who had established themselves earlier the chance to increase their holdings.
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August 30, 1875 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, August 30, 1875
In this August 30, 1875 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, 80 acres in Lancaster County, Nebraska sell for $6.00 per acre. Vaclav Krenek, who arrived from Prague, Bohemia seven months before he filled out this application, notes on his application that he owns no other land in Nebraska. Railroad land sales provided immigrants the chance to become property owners soon after their arrival.
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June 16, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, June 16, 1874
In this June 16, 1874 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, Hungarian Andreas Mosser purchases land in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Mosser's application is especially remarkable, as he lists his time in the United States as "14 days" and his time in Nebraska as "8 days". The railroad clearly played an instrumental role in Mosser's new life in America, both by selling him his own land and likely by transporting him across the country to take possession of it, all within the span of only two weeks.
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June 9, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, June 9, 1874
In this June 9, 1874 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, James O'Reily purchases 160 acres of land at $6.00 per acre on ten years credit. Leaving the "Length of time in Nebraska" line blank, O'Reily's application from Minnesota to purchase railroad land shows how the railroad's involvement in real estate may have influenced migration choices.
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May 25, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, May 25, 1874
This May 25, 1874 document is an application to purchase land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company in Lancaster County, Nebraska. This applicant was an immigrant from Prussia, and financed his land purchase on "long credit", paying $43.20 when he filled out the application. Abundant land in the Great Plains gave immigrants like this man opportunities to become property owners.
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March 26, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, March 26, 1874
This March 26, 1874 document is an application to purchase land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The applicant, Adolph Brauer, was a German immigrant who had lived in the United States for only four years, but apparently seized the opportunity provided by the railroads to purchase his own property.
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March 18, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, Signature Sheet
This signature sheet from a Johann Brunken's Nebraska land contract has spaces for fares and freight on the Burlington and Missouri River and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroads, showing at least two of the railroads that had expanded into Nebraska by 1874.
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March 18, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, March 18, 1874
In this March 18, 1874 application to buy land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, a quarter section of Nebraska land sells for $7.00 per acre. A German immigrant who had lived in the United States for six years, Johann Brunken had spent only five days in Nebraska prior to his land purchase. The opportunity to own land as a recent immigrant may have influenced his decision to relocate.
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March 14, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, March 14, 1874
This March 14, 1874 application to purchase land in Lancaster County, Nebraska from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company details the costs associated with land purchases. As both an immigrant and a woman, this applicant shows that the availability of relatively cheap land opened ownership opportunities to a variety of non-traditional demographic groups.
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January 20, 1874 | Contract
Burlington Northern Land Contract, January 20, 1874
This January 20, 1874 document is an application to purchase land at $6.00 per acre from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company in Lancaster County, Nebraska. An immigrant from Bohemia, the applicant lists his length of time in the United States as six years and his time in Nebraska as 20 months. This purchaser's status as a relative newcomer to the country shows how the availability of land near railroads simultaneously provided opportunities for new immigrants to become property holders and also gave incentive for people to settle in the Great Plains.
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October 25, 1863
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, October 25, 1863
In this letter from October 25, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing his journey from Eddyville, Iowa to Albia, Iowa via stage coach as reminiscent of "old times." He states that stage coaches "are like the wild indians soon to be banished from the land to b known no more." Reed comments on crop prices and states he intends to come home for the winter unless "the work on the new road is commenced." He also notes that he has been reading William Howard Russell's My Diary, North and South, and finds it highly amusing.
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October 11, 1863
Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, October 11, 1863
In this letter from October 11, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, describing the progress of the harvest on their farm. She states that his enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, is still well, but that many believe Colonel Frederick A. Bartleson was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.
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September 13, 1863 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, September 13, 1863
In this letter from September 13, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife repeating his request for information regarding the frost damage to crops on their farm in Joliet, Illinois. He notes that lately he has been in charge of the movement of trains, in addition to his regular duties, as "all in authority above me are absent." He also states that it now appears possible that there will be new work on the railroad in the fall. He expects to receive instructions to "let the first division of the road west of Ottumwa [Iowa] which will include the bridge over the Des Moines River which will cost about 70,000 dollars and will be a fine chance to display engineering skill."
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September 6, 1863 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, September 6, 1863
In this letter from September 6, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing the extent of frost damage to crops in Iowa. He tells her he is "very anxious to know how much damage has been done in [the] vicinity of Joliet and especially on the farm."
