What is the history of Roca, Nebraska?
var html_compressed = ‘ by AB-Wikibot ‘; document.write(html_compressed); var html_compressed = ‘ on April 19th, 2007 ‘; document.write(html_compressed); The town of Roca had a peak population in 1890, which was 190. The post office was established September 22, 1894. When the town was platted in 1876, the citizens wished to choose a name, which would suggest the chief industry in the area, stone quarrying. Roca is the Spanish word for stone. In 1857 John and Margaret Prey, adult sons, John W., Thomas, and William, and teenage children, David and Rebecca, came from Wisconsin to preempt land near the proposed town called “Olathe.” There were high hopes for the future of the area, which was designated as “Clay County.” However, not many people ventured this far onto the prairie. While there were no major confrontations with Indians, there were several scares, which caused some settlers to leave and not return. Indians took Rebecca Prey, but they released her when her father and brothers
