List of founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids

The following people were important founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska. They helped shape the city from 1853 through 1900.

The idea to create the City of Omaha started with a picnic on July 4, 1854. This event happened on a hillside that later became the home of the Nebraska Territory Capitol. Today, Omaha Central High School stands there. Some people at this picnic are on this list because they continued to influence the city. Others are not included if their impact didn't last. Some attendees were Hadley A. Johnson, Alfred D. Jones and his wife, A.J. Hanscom and his wife, William D. Brown and his wife, Thomas Davis and his wife, Frederick Davis and his wife, and a Mr. Seely and his wife.

Many people on this list were also members of the Old Settlers' Association or the Omaha Claim Club. A lot of them are buried at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in North Omaha.

Meet Omaha's Founders: Key People Who Built the City

Omaha's long-serving mayor, Cowboy Jim Dahlman

Logan Fontenelle, chief of the Omaha Tribe who helped make the city's land available

Edward Rosewater, who started and edited the Omaha Bee newspaper

Early Leaders and City Builders

• William D. Brown (1813–1868): A businessman who ran the Lone Tree Ferry. This ferry was important for crossing the river in the early days.
• William Byers (1831–1903): He was a surveyor and politician. He created the very first map of Omaha. He also served on the first Omaha City Council and in the Nebraska Territorial Legislature.
• James Dahlman (1856–1930): Known as "Cowboy" Jim Dahlman, he was elected mayor of Omaha eight times! He was a very popular leader.
• Harry Porter Deuel (1836–1914): An early railroad pioneer. He ran a successful steamboat agency when Omaha was very young. Later, he worked for major railroads like Union Pacific.
• Logan Fontenelle (1825–1855): He was the chief of the Omaha (tribe). He played a key role in signing the treaty that made the land for Omaha available for settlement.
• Reuben Gaylord (1812–1880): An early minister, he is often called the "father of Congregationalism in Nebraska" because of his important work in establishing churches.
• Andrew J. Hanscom (1828–1907): A lawyer and politician, he attended the 1854 picnic that founded Omaha. He later helped plan the Hanscom Park neighborhood.
• Alfred D. Jones (1814–1902): A lawyer and surveyor, he was at the founding picnic in 1854. He was also the first mayor of Omaha and helped map out the city in June 1854.
• Thomas Kennard (1828–1920): A lawyer who became the first Nebraska Secretary of State.
• Jesse Lowe (1814–1868): He was the first mayor of Omaha. He and his brother were among the city's founders. He is said to have chosen the name "Omaha City" to honor the Omaha Tribe.
• George L. Miller (1830–1920): He was the first doctor in Omaha. He was also an editor, politician, and important community leader.
• A. J. Poppleton (1830–1896): A lawyer and politician, he started the first law firm in the Nebraska territory. He also served as Omaha's second mayor.
• Byron Reed (1821–1891): He was the first real estate agent in Nebraska and held several public offices.
• Edward Rosewater (1841–1906): He founded and edited the Omaha Bee, an important newspaper during Omaha's early years.
• Moses F. Shinn (1809–?): A settler and farmer who founded Prospect Hill Cemetery.
• William and Rachel Snowden (dates unknown): By July 11, 1854, William Snowden was the first person to live in Omaha City. He built a simple log cabin that became the St. Nicholas Hotel.

Business and Community Builders

• Erastus Benson (1854–1932): A real estate investor who founded the area known as Benson. He was also a generous giver to the community.
• Edward Creighton (1820–1874): A banker who helped start the First National Bank of Omaha. Creighton University is named after him.
• John A. Creighton (1831–1907): Edward's brother, he was a freighter and a generous giver. He helped provide money to establish Creighton University.
• Mary Creighton (1834–1876): Edward's wife, she gave money to help start Creighton University in his memory after he passed away.
• Augustus Kountze (1826–1892): A banker who founded First National Bank of Omaha with his brother Herman.
• Herman Kountze (1833–1906): A banker and real estate investor. He co-founded First National Bank of Omaha and helped plan the Kountze Place neighborhood. He was also involved with the Trans-Mississippi Exposition and the Omaha Stockyards. Kountze Park is named after him.
• Frederick Krug (1855–1930): He founded the Krug Brewing Company and Krug Park, which was a popular amusement park.
• Frederick Metz (1832–1901): He owned the Metz Brewery and served as a state legislator twice.
• Ezra Millard (1833–1886): A banker at Omaha National Bank. The town of Millard is named after him.
• William A. Paxton (1837–1907): A businessman and politician who helped create the Omaha Stockyards and many other companies.
• John I. Redick (1828–?): A businessman who operated the city's first opera house and was an early supporter of Omaha University.
• Gottlieb Storz (dates unknown–1939): He founded and owned the Storz Brewery. He also built the Prague Hotel and was highly respected in the immigrant community.
• Gurdon Wattles (1855–1932): He was a key organizer of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, a huge fair held in Omaha.
• Anna Wilson (1835–1911): A generous giver who left her property to the city when she passed away.

Other Notable Figures

• Dan Allen (1832–1884): An influential figure in early Omaha.
• George Robert Armstrong (1819–1896): Served as mayor of Omaha twice.
• Augustus Hall (1814–1861): The first Chief Justice of the Nebraska Territory.
• Gilbert Hitchcock (1859–1934): Owner and editor of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper and a Nebraska politician.
• George B. Lake (1826–1910): One of the first justices on the Nebraska Supreme Court.
• Enos Lowe (1804–1880): One of the first doctors in Omaha and a founding member of many organizations.
• John L. McCague (dates unknown): An early land investor in Omaha.
• James G. Megeath (1824–1906): An important early resident.
• James C. Mitchell (1810–1860): A real estate salesman and ferry operator who founded the town of Florence.
• Elizabeth Doughton Reeves (dates unknown): The first woman doctor in Omaha.
• Matthew Ricketts (1858–1917): The first African American to graduate from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and the first to join the Nebraska Legislature.
• John A. Smiley (dates unknown): Opened the first Omaha Stockyards before selling it to William A. Paxton.
• Josie Washburn (1853–?): An important figure in the city's history.

See also

• History of Omaha
• List of mayors of Omaha
• List of people from Omaha, Nebraska
• Kountze family (category)
• Creighton family (category)