Settlement was first made in Madison in the sixties and the town was first surveyed and laid out in 1870 by the late F. W. Barnes of San Diego, California. Since that time many additions have been platted and are now quite fully occupied by a happy and prosperous people. Madison is known as one of the most beautiful little cities in Nebraska as its location is ideal nestling as it does along the banks of Union creek and Taylor Creek the confluence of these two streams being at the foot of Pearl, the principal street of the town. It was about twenty-four years ago that Madison was incorporated under the laws of Nebraska as a city and since that time it has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth until it is now estimated that there are easily 2,000 people within its corporate limits. Madison is a delightful place to live in and has come to be known as the ideal home town. During the growing season the city is a veritable bower of trees and flowers. Pretty lawns and gardens are the source of pride of every citizen of the town.

     Madison boasts of many pretty homes and during the next few years will see a decided improvement in this respect as just now home-builders are vieing with each other in seeing who can build the most modern home. It was but a few years ago that the average home in Madison cost from $1,000 to $2,500 while now the average cost is from $3,500 to $7,000, some costing more.

     Madison is one of the few towns in the west that boasts of municipal ownership. The electric light system and the water plant are owned by the city and operated by it. The city government is in the hands of a mayor and city council of four members, the town being divided into two wards. In addition to the mayor and council there are the usual number of other officers, city clerk, treasurer and engineer. The present officials are:

     Madison has a splendid city hall which is perhaps not equaled by any town of its size in the state. This building cost $10,000 and is a two-story brick being of modern design. In it are housed the apparatus of a splendid volunteer fire department and the city jail which occupy the lower floor, while the second floor contains the council chamber, and a large assembly room which will accommodate 500 people, and the city library.

     Madison is the county seat of Madison county and has been the seat of government since 1876. The county buildings occupy the highest point in the city and from this height one can see for miles looking out over an agricultural country that is not surpassed anywhere.

     The county buildings have about outgrown their usefulness and the day is not far distant when the county will perhaps erect a more commodious and handsome structure to keep pace with the growth of the county and its needs. The officials of Madison county at this time are as follows:

     Madison has but one draw back at this time and that is the fact that it is situated upon a branch railroad. However, the service is very fair and will undoubtedly be improved within a short time. The Union Pacific has just completed a handsome modern railroad station in Madison costing in the neighborhood of $10,000. It is generally believed that it is the intention of the Union Pacific to build a branch line out of Madison going west through the center of the county and tapping a rich agricultural country which at the present time is without railroad facilities. An interurban line from Madison is also being strongly urged and considerable interest is being manifested in the project.

     Withal it would be a difficult matter for one to find a better town in all particulars than Madison. It is populated by a progressive and happy lot of people who have much civic pride and who are imbued with a spirit of progress. Madison has never at any time undergone a mushroom growth but by steady strides has forged to the front and is now recognized as one of the most substantial towns in Nebraska.

     All representative lines of business are found in Madison and her business men are generally recognized as a whole, as being men of unquestioned standing and capacity who for the most part have kept abreast of the times and operated their several lines of business in a conservative manner. Here will be found strong and conservative banking houses which have stood for years and always been held in confidence by the public. The stocks of merchandise are much more complete and superior in many respects than will be found in the average town of its size. Most of the stores are housed in modern buildings and constant changes are being made to keep up with the march of progress. Madison is now and for many years has been recognized as a splendid market town, and as a result much trade is attracted from other towns in close proximity. Three excellent grain elevators of ample capacity which pay the highest market price at all times do a splendid business while two of the largest lumber yards in the state fill the demand of builders. In fact there is hardly a line of business necessary for an agricultural country that is not represented in Madison. However, there is room here for some lines of business which are not crowded. As it would necessitate a great amount of space to make individual mention of each business and its proprietor no attempt will be made in that respect at this time any further than to enumerate as near as possible the lines of business under their several classifications.

     Madison boasts among other things of its excellent churches all of which are in splendid condition and have large congregations. These congregations are Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, German Emmanual Lutheran, German Methodist, German Evangelical Lutheran.

     The public schools of Madison are in the fore rank of those of the state and are in the hands of a splendid corps of teachers who have at all times taken much pride in the work.

     Madison has a public library of good proportions which is growing rapidly and within the next year or two a building Madison is one of the big fraternal towns of the state, two of its orders, the Woodmen and Highlanders, standing near the top in membership. Other fraternal organizations are well represented among them being the Masons, Eastern Star, Odd Fellows, K. of P., Rebeccas, Workmen, Woodmen of the World, Ben Hur, Degree of Honor, Modern Brotherhood, and one or two others. Other organizations of considerable prominence are the Woman's Club, the P. E. O. Society and the Study Club.