A deformation, or structure points to oil land, and an old surveyor's report shows oil seeps east of Sidney but up to the present no well has been brought in.

United States Land Office

The United States Land Office was established in Sidney in July, 1887, with the first officers as follows: John M. Adams, register and G. B. Blakely, receiver ; G. B. Blanchard, register and L. M. Neeves, receiver, succeeded them. They in turn were succeeded by John M. Adams, register and P. G. Griffith, receiver ; George W. Heist, register and R. D. Harris, receiver. Judge Heist died in office after which R. D. Harris was made register with Matt Daugherty receiver. R. D. Harris was reappointed register and J. L. Mcintosh receiver, following which these two officials reversed positions which they held until the office was abandoned in March, 1906.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

ORGANIZATION OF CHEYENNE COUNTY

Before Cheyenne county came into existence, the western part of Nebraska was divided by an arbitrary act into counties. Two of these, Lyons and Taylor counties, and a part of Monroe county comprised the territory which in 1867, was made into Cheyenne county. These counties had no organization and no government was needed. Between 1867 and 1870, Cheyenne county was attached to Lincoln county for all revenue, administrative and judicial purposes. In 1870, Thomas Kane went to Lincoln, the state capital, to prevail upon Governor David Butler, to call an election for choosing officers for Cheyenne county, which was done by a proclamation in August, 1870. The following officers were chosen: Thomas Kane, treasurer; John Ellis, sheriff; C. A. Moore, Fred Glover, and H. L. Ellsworth, commissioners, and H. A. Dygart, clerk. The latter served but a short time and D. A. Martin was appointed to succeed him.