First Nebraska Territorial Legislature
Encyclopedia
The First Nebraska Territorial Legislature first met in Omaha, Nebraska
on January 15, 1855. The Council Bluffs and Nebraska Ferry Company provided the first meeting place, which was a building "constructed for public purposes." Standing out from the estimated twenty shacks in the young town, it was the first brick building in Omaha, which was founded the year before when the Nebraska Territory
was created. Responsible for several important decisions that laid an important foundation for future statehood for Nebraska
, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
made controversial votes and provided significant leadership for the fledgling territory.
. Legislators from south of the Platte wore red blankets over their shoulders in the first session to indicate their hostility towards the northern legislators.
Although the then current Omaha capitol building, built in 1857-58, was apparently sturdy enough to house legislative sessions for several years and was well located in relation to Nebraska's 1867 population, it was still north of the Platte. Forces from the south launched a major verbal and legal initiative to move the seat of government to their part of the state. The first Legislature was also responsible for chartering Nebraska University in Washington County
. Slavery in Nebraska was a topic of the first legislature, where members were largely influenced by events in neighboring Kansas
. The first legislature considered an exclusion measure designed to keep former slaves from the territory. After the bill was postponed the issue continued to be raised, ultimately delaying statehood.
at the end of each day for rest. The new territorial governor, Mark W. Izard
, was successful at persuading members to adopt Iowa's legislative rules. Omaha members bribed other legislators to keep the capitol in Omaha by offering them lots in their new city. This land, which now wraps around the north and west ends of Downtown Omaha
, was called Scriptown
.
Although not a member, Reverend W.D. Gage served as the chaplain, and later the legislature returned the favor by naming Gage County
after him.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
on January 15, 1855. The Council Bluffs and Nebraska Ferry Company provided the first meeting place, which was a building "constructed for public purposes." Standing out from the estimated twenty shacks in the young town, it was the first brick building in Omaha, which was founded the year before when the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
was created. Responsible for several important decisions that laid an important foundation for future statehood for Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
Nebraska Territorial Legislature
The Nebraska Territorial Legislature was held from January 16, 1855 until 1865 in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory.- Slavery :In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory, overturning the Missouri Compromise by allowing legislatures of the Nebraska and Kansas territories to...
made controversial votes and provided significant leadership for the fledgling territory.
Issues
The first legislature, along with several subsequent gatherings, drew criticism for a perceived lack of representation of the population south of the Platte RiverPlatte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
. Legislators from south of the Platte wore red blankets over their shoulders in the first session to indicate their hostility towards the northern legislators.
Although the then current Omaha capitol building, built in 1857-58, was apparently sturdy enough to house legislative sessions for several years and was well located in relation to Nebraska's 1867 population, it was still north of the Platte. Forces from the south launched a major verbal and legal initiative to move the seat of government to their part of the state. The first Legislature was also responsible for chartering Nebraska University in Washington County
Washington County, Nebraska
-National protected areas:*Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge*DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 7,408...
. Slavery in Nebraska was a topic of the first legislature, where members were largely influenced by events in neighboring Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. The first legislature considered an exclusion measure designed to keep former slaves from the territory. After the bill was postponed the issue continued to be raised, ultimately delaying statehood.
Members
Few of the members had actually spent more than a night in the districts they represented, and most ferried to Council Bluffs, IowaCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
at the end of each day for rest. The new territorial governor, Mark W. Izard
Mark W. Izard
Mark Whitaker Izard was an Arkansas Democratic politician is best known for being the 3rd Governor of the Nebraska Territory....
, was successful at persuading members to adopt Iowa's legislative rules. Omaha members bribed other legislators to keep the capitol in Omaha by offering them lots in their new city. This land, which now wraps around the north and west ends of Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
, was called Scriptown
Scriptown
Scriptown was the name of the first subdivision in the history of Omaha, which at the time was located in Nebraska Territory. It was called "Scriptown" because scrip was used as payment, similar to how a company would pay employees when regular money was unavailable...
.
Although not a member, Reverend W.D. Gage served as the chaplain, and later the legislature returned the favor by naming Gage County
Gage County, Nebraska
-History:Gage County was formed with land taken from the Oto in an 1854 treaty. It was named after the minister William D. Gage.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 22,993 people, 9,316 households, and 6,204 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per...
after him.
| Name | Dates of service | Occupation | Representing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Byers William Byers William Newton Byers was a founding figure of Omaha, Nebraska, serving as the first deputy surveyor of the Nebraska Territory, on the first Omaha City Council, and as a member of the first Nebraska Territorial Legislature.... |
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| Alfred D. Jones Alfred D. Jones Alfred D. Jones was a lawyer, surveyor and politician in the 1900s in the Midwestern United States. In 1846 he platted Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1854 he platted Omaha, Nebraska... |
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| Samuel Maxwell Samuel Maxwell Samuel Maxwell was a Populist politician in the U.S. state of Nebraska.Born in Lodi, New York on May 20, 1825, he moved with his parents to Michigan in 1844. He taught school, farmed, and studied law. He moved to the Nebraska Territory settling in Cass County, Nebraska resumed farming... |
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| Origen D. Richardson Origen D. Richardson Origen Drew Richardson was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, and in the Nebraska Territory.-Biography:Richardson was born in Woodstock, Vermont, where he studied and practiced law... |
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| Robert W. Furnas | 1856- | |||
| Turner M. Marquette Turner M. Marquette Turner Mastin Marquette was a Nebraska Republican politician best known for being the first house representative for the state.-Early life:... |
1857–1859 | |||
| Stephen Friel | ||||
| Lafayette Nuckolls | ||||
| Samuel Hitt Elbert Samuel Hitt Elbert Samuel Hitt Elbert served as Governor of the Territory of Colorado and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Colorado .... |
1860- | |||
| Henry W. DePuy | ||||
| William Byers William Byers William Newton Byers was a founding figure of Omaha, Nebraska, serving as the first deputy surveyor of the Nebraska Territory, on the first Omaha City Council, and as a member of the first Nebraska Territorial Legislature.... |
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| George L. Miller George L. Miller Dr. George Lorin Miller was a pioneer physician, editor, politician, civic leader and land owner in Omaha, Nebraska. The founder of the Omaha Herald, which later became part of the Omaha World-Herald, Miller arrived in Omaha in 1854, the year the city was founded... |
1855 | 1856 | ||