 In 1858, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature establish Merrick county named after Elvira Merrick, the wife of a Dodge County Nebraska Territorial legislator who introduced the bill creating Merrick County.A yet to be established county seat was called "Elvira" and was said to be located under Lone Tree.It was not until 1866 that an actual county seat was created near the mythical location of Elvira and renamed "Lone Tree."