In 1860, Nebraska was still a territory, and there were very few people in the area that later became Butler County in 1868. There was probably not an established post office in the county yet, so mail was sent to the nearest settled town that had a post office then whoever went to town got the mail. According to the Andreas' Butler County chapter there were only 29 people in the county by 1861. One of the areas of the county was settled by a town company that came from Plattsmouth, so there is a chance that they meant the town in Cass County. If you would like to check the early history of the county, you can find the Butler County Chapter from Andreas' History of Nebraska (1882) at: http://www.ukans.edu/carrie/kancoll/andreas_ne/butler/butler-p1.html There is a Mr. McCabe that's listed in the names index for the Butler Co. chapter. Connie "J. M. Freed" wrote: > The only 1860 Federal Census for Butler County, NE, that I have seen, > shows only 6 dwellings (27 individuals), all supposedly located in > Butler County, with an address of Plattsmouth P. O. I have an 1876 > Butler County, NE map, but it does NOT show Plattsmouth P. O. > > I am specifically interested in the "J. McCabe" shown in the 1860 > census (Dwelling # 827). I am wondering if he has any connection to > the "McCabe Ranch" shown on this 1876 map, that is located in the > center of Savannah Township, on what appears to be both the "Old > Government Road" and the Mormon Trail. The closest P. O. to the > McCabe ranch on this 1876 map is "Patron P. O." Does any reader > know if the Plattsmouth P. O. later became the Patron P. O.? > > Further, does anybody have any knowledge of this J. McCabe, listed as > 48 years of age, a farmer and born in Ohio? He is listed with Sarah > A. Watson, age 36, b. Kentucky, and apparently her four children: > Oliver, 17, b. Kentucky; Louisa, 11, b. Kentucky; John, 7, born > Missouri; and Elizabeth, 2, born Nebraska. What is the "connection" > between this J. McCabe and Sarah A. Watson? > > One last question: Butler County, NE, in 1860, must have had more > than 27 individuals in the county. Are there other census indexes or > the "full" census for that year that includes more individuals? > > THANKS > > Jim Freed, Delaware, OH > jmfreed@midohio.net