The history of Postville, Nebraska
Discover the heritage of Postville in Joliet Township, founded in the 1870s by early pioneers and Welsh settlers who built a close-knit community on the Nebraska prairie centered around faith, family, and education.
Founding and early homesteading
John W. Elliott brought his family to Joliet Township from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, in the early 1870s.
On May 27, 1876, he obtained his homestead land from the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The land was the southwest quarter of Section 23, totaling 160 acres, and cost $680.00.
On September 26, 1878, Mr. Elliott applied to the U.S. Post Office Department to move the post office from Wolf, Nebraska, in Burrows Township, to a location three miles east. Wolf was located on the east side of Shell Creek along the Columbus-to-Lindsay route.
Mr. Elliott stated in his application that moving the post office to the west side of Shell Creek would shorten the mail route by three miles. The application was approved on October 12, 1878.
Mr. Elliott named the new post office Postville in honor of his friend Alfred M. Post of Columbus, Nebraska. Mr. Post was a lawyer and served as Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Mr. Elliott believed Postville would grow and become an important place in history, and he wanted his friend’s name to be part of that legacy.
The recorded population of Postville, Nebraska, in 1900 was 47.
The naming and postal heritage of Postville
On September 26, 1878, John W. Elliott applied to the U.S. Post Office Department to move the post office from Wolf, Nebraska, in Burrows Township, three miles east to the west side of Shell Creek along the Columbus-to-Lindsay route. Approved on October 12, 1878, the new post office shortened the mail route by three miles. Mr. Elliott named it Postville in honor of his esteemed friend, Alfred M. Post of Columbus, Nebraska, a prominent lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Twenty-four years of service and leadership
The Postville Post Office operated faithfully for twenty-four years, from October 17, 1878, until September 30, 1902. Throughout its existence, it served as a vital community hub under three dedicated postmasters: John W. Elliott (October 17, 1878 – October 3, 1881), Hanson S. Elliott (October 3, 1881 – February 5, 1896), and Thomas Jones (February 5, 1896 – September 30, 1902). Their legacy remains woven into our local church, cemetery, and community archives.
"Postville lives on through the records of its settlers, the historic 1884 church, and the sacred ground where our community's founders rest."
Postville Welsh Church and Cemetery historical archives