Garryowen, Washington County, Nebraska Historic Towns: Garryowen Historic Towns: Garryowen -Courtesy of Washington County Nebraska History, 1980 Garryowen was a hamlet in the very south east corner of Washington County, not far from the ghost town of Rockport or the area of Coffman. Garryowen has changed with the times but the area family names are primarily the same. The soddy's have been replaced with modern homes and the horse drive implements with modern machinery, but the area is still the quiet, open, picturesque land that the pioneers saw. John Fitzgerald, James Wiseman, William Connors, John Kelly, Michael Kelly Sr., Dean Slader, Ferinand Stankey, John O'dea, Mads Mortensen, and Nicholas Rix were among the first settlers to the area in 1854. The area, likely named for the Irish patriot of the 19th century, Garry Owen, was known as of the best agricultural districts in the county. At one time, Garryowen boasted a one room school house, built in 1866 and replaced in 1896. It burned down in 1964. The original homesteads are still there, but like Nashville, the area has been absorbed into the greater Omaha area as time has passed. Back to Top