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History
When William Jackson “Jack” Marion was hanged for murder March 25, 1887, he took to the grave the knowledge of what really happened to John Cameron. What he didn’t know was that he would go down in history as the last person officially hanged in Gage County as well as in the State of Nebraska. A copy of the actual death warrant served by Sheriff Nathaniel Herron is on file at the Gage County Historical Society Museum in Beatrice.
In 1986, Marion’s grandson came to Beatrice looking to pardon his grandfather. The grandson claims Marion didn’t commit the crime. Marion was granted a posthumous pardon on the 100th anniversary of his hanging. Click on this link for more information: https://netnebraska.org/article/news/best-2013-1887-hanging-remains-nebraskas-most-controversial-execution
Construction began on the new jail facility in 1975 and was completed in 1977. The construction added the ambulance department, a larger jail area, and office space. The jail area has the capacity to house 26 male and four female inmates. The average daily population in the jail is 20 and at times has been to full capacity but currently have been running 15-25 inmates being held in other facilities due to over population.
Fifteen communities besides the county seat, Beatrice, are located within the boundaries of Gage County.
Photos of the Sheriff's Office/Jail before addition. First was 1918 and the second photo was taken on 10/16/61.
Beatrice was founded in 1857 and named in honor of Julia Beatrice Kinney, daughter of Judge J.F. Kinney, the first president of the Nebraska Association. The Association explored Nebraska for the purpose of selecting town sites. After surveying the streams and rolling prairie surrounding what is now Beatrice, they knew their quest was at an end.
Sheriffs
| 1857-1858 Daniel P Taylor |
1880-1886 Nathaniel Herron |
1921-1922 J C Emery |
| 1858-1860 Philetus M Favor |
1886-1890 E F Davis |
1922-1928 John R Sailing |
| 1860-1862 Eli B Hendy |
1890-1892 William R Jones |
1928-1938 Tom Dunn |
| 1862-1866 Joseph Clyne |
1892-1896 Robert Kyd |
1938-1946 Ben Goble |
| 1866-1868 Thomas W Brown |
1896-1900 Lind Nelson |
1946-1960 E G Ned Maxwell |
| 1868-1870 Luther P Chandler |
1900-1904 William A Waddington |
1960-1982 Fred Steinkamp, Jr |
| 1870-1872 Daniel Freeman |
1904-1910 Alonzo J Trude |
1982-1986 Ted Henderson |
| 1872-1876 Leander Y Coffin |
1910-1915 John L Schieck |
1986-2006 Jerry O DeWitt |
| 1876-1878 A P Hazard |
1915-1919 Frank W Acton |
2007-present Millard W Gustafson |
| 1878-1800 Eugene Mack |
1919-1921 John L Schieck |
Badges
These badges pictured below show the progression over the years of how they have changed. The ¨Special Deputy¨ badge was probably from the 50´s and 60´s, the five point star was worn up until the early 80´s at which time the seven point star was adopted by all Sheriff´s Offices in the state of Nebraska. The millennium badge was specially designed for the millennium year 2000 by V. H. Blackington Badge Company, Inc out of Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts. It was a one time die cast that law enforcement officers could purchase at that time only. Gold colored badges indicate rank held in supervision and management positions. Silver colored badges symbolize investigator, road patrol deputies, reserve deputies, part-time deputies, and transport deputies.
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Old Vehicles
Pictured from left to right: Deputy Sheriff Larry Higgins; Deputy Sheriff Ronald "Buck" Zabokrtsky; Deputy Sheriff Ted Henderson; Deputy Sheriff Mike VanLaningham; Deputy Sheriff Alan Claassen; Deputy Sheriff Dan Cripe; and Sheriff Fred Steinkamp Jr. Circa 1970's
Sheriff Steinkamp
Sheriff Fred Steinkamp Jr (left) and Deputy Sheriff Cal Gullion (right) are shown working with "Mike," the Sheriff´s Office dog. This was circa 1960s.
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