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List of speakers of the Nebraska House of Representatives

This article is about the leader of the defunct lower house of the old Nebraska bicameral legislature. For the leader of the current Nebraska unicameral legislature, see List of speakers of the Nebraska Legislature.

The speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives was an office in the Nebraska Legislature which existed from 1855 to 1936 when Nebraska had a bicameral legislature. This office was created when the Nebraska Territory was first established and remained after Nebraska became a state.[1] When Nebraska voters adopted a unicameral legislature beginning in 1937, this office ceased to exist and was replaced by a single speaker of the Nebraska Legislature.

Speakers of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives edit

The lower house of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature was called the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives, and its presiding officer was called a speaker.[2] Twelve individuals are officially recognized as having served as speaker of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives during its twelve sessions[3] before Nebraska became a state.[1] However, the office was briefly split when a faction of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature broke off from the meeting at Omaha, Nebraska, and convened at Florence, Nebraska, in January 1858.[4]

#[a] Name[1] Session start Session end County of residence Party[b] Notes
1 Andrew J. Hanscom Jan 16, 1855 Mar 16, 1855 Douglas
2 Potter C. Sullivan Dec 18, 1855 Jan 26, 1856 Washington
3 Isaac L. Gibbs Jan 5, 1857 Feb 18, 1857 Otoe
4 James H. Decker Dec 8, 1857 Jan 16, 1858 Otoe Departed with the majority faction that went to Florence, Nebraska, and remained speaker of that contingent.[5]
– J. Sterling Morton Jan 7, 1858 Jan 7, 1858 Otoe Dem Speaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha.[6]
– Andrew J. Poppleton Jan 8, 1858 Jan 16, 1858 Douglas Dem Speaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha.[7] Later served as the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.
5 Hiram P. Bennet Sep 21, 1858 Nov 4, 1858 Otoe Rep
6 Silas A. Strickland Dec 5, 1859 Jan 13, 1860 Sarpy Dem[8]
7 Henry W. DePuy Dec 3, 1860 Jan 11, 1861 Washington Rep[8]
8 Alfred D. Jones Dec 2, 1861 Jan 10, 1862 Douglas
9 George B. Lake Jan 7, 1864[c] Feb 15, 1864 Douglas Later served as a Nebraska Supreme Court justice
10 Samuel M. Kirkpatrick Jan 5, 1865 Feb 13, 1865 Cass Rep
11 James G. Megeath Jan 4, 1866 Feb 12, 1866 Douglas Dem
12 William F. Chapin Jan 10, 1867 Feb 18, 1867 Cass Rep Later served as the second speaker of the House of Representatives and as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska

Speakers of the Nebraska House of Representatives edit

After Nebraska became a state in 1867, the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature continued to be called the Nebraska House of Representatives as the successor to the Territorial House of Representatives. The Nebraska Constitution of 1866 briefly mentioned the presiding officer of this chamber, again called the speaker of the House of Representatives.[9] The Nebraska Constitution of 1875 likewise mentioned the office of speaker of the House of Representatives.[10] The speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives was third in line to become governor after the lieutenant governor and the president pro tempore of the Senate.[10] This office was abolished after 1936 when Nebraska adopted a unicameral legislature, and its title was transferred to the newly created office of speaker of the Nebraska Legislature.

# Name[1] Tenure Place of residence Party[b][11] Notes
1 William A. Pollock 1866 Brownville Rep
2 William F. Chapin 1867–1868 Cass County Rep Previously served as the last speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives; later served as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska
3 William McLennan 1869–1870 Otoe County Rep
4 George W. Collins 1871–1872 Pawnee City Rep
5 Milan H. Sessions 1873–1874 Lancaster County Rep
6 Edward S. Towle 1875–1876 Falls City Rep
7 Albinus Nance 1877–1878 Osceola Rep Later served as Governor of Nebraska
8 Charles P. Mathewson 1879–1880 Norfolk Rep
9 Hibbard H. Shedd 1881–1882 Ashland Rep Later served as Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
10 George M. Humphrey 1883–1884 Pawnee City Rep
11 Allen W. Field 1885–1886 Lincoln Rep
12 Nathan V. Harlan 1887–1888 York Rep
13 John C. Watson 1889–1890 Nebraska City Rep Later served as president pro tempore of the Nebraska Senate
14 Samuel M. Elder 1891–1892 Clay Center Fus
15 James N. Gaffin 1893–1894 Colon Fus Later served as the 17th speaker
16 Charles L. Richards 1895–1896 Hebron Rep
17 James N. Gaffin 1897–1898 Colon Fus Previously served as the 15th speaker
18 Paul F. Clark 1899–1900 Lincoln Rep
19 William G. Sears 1901–1902 Tekamah Rep
20 John H. Mockett Jr. 1903–1904 Lincoln Rep
21 George L. Rouse 1905–1906 Alda Rep
22 Daniel M. Nettleton 1907–1908 Spring Ranch Rep
23 Charles W. Pool 1909–1910 Tecumseh Dem Later served as Nebraska Secretary of State
24 John Kuhl 1911–1912 Randolph Dem
25 Peter C. Kelley 1913–1914 Grand Island Dem
26 George W. Jackson 1915–1918 Nelson Dem
27 Dwight S. Dalbey 1919–1920 Beatrice Rep
28 Walter L. Anderson 1921–1922 Lincoln Rep
29 Albert N. Mathers 1923–1924 Gering Rep
30 Allen G. Burke 1925–1926 Bancroft Rep
31 James A. Rodman 1927–1928 Omaha Rep
32 Bern R. Coulter 1929–1930 Bridgeport Rep
33 Samuel Max Kier 1931–1932 Lincoln Rep
34 George W. O'Malley 1933–1934 Greeley Dem
35 William H. O'Gara 1935–1936 Laurel Dem

Notes edit

  1. ^ This is also the number of the legislative session.
  2. ^ a b Party affiliations during the time each individual served as speaker are listed here when known.
  3. ^ No session was held in 1863.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d State of Nebraska (2023). Nebraska Blue Book 2022-23. pp. 394–395.
  2. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "The First Legislature". History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company.
  3. ^ a b "Territorial Legislatures". The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1915 (PDF). pp. 21–29.
  4. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "The Florence Secession". History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company.
  5. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "The Florence Secession". History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. On the morning of January 7, 1858, ...[t]he Speaker, Mr. James H. Decker, withdrew from the House, with his friends.... The following morning, Friday, the 8th, the House met, and, on motion of Mr. Donelan, to adjourn to meet at Florence the next day, the session was declared adjourned by Speaker Decker. Thereupon all but thirteen members quitted the chamber.... The seceding branch met at Florence, from which place they addressed a resolution to Acting Gov. Cuming ...over the signatures of 'J. H. Decker, Speaker of the House of Representatives,' and 'Leavitt L. Bowen, President of the Council'....
  6. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "The Florence Secession". History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. On the morning of January 7, 1858, ...[t]he Speaker, Mr. James H. Decker, withdrew from the House, with his friends.... Thirteen of the members remained in session, and... Mr. Morton was chosen Speaker pro tem...
  7. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "The Florence Secession". History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. The following morning, Friday, the 8th, the House met, and, on motion of Mr. Donelan, to adjourn to meet at Florence the next day, the session was declared adjourned by Speaker Decker. Thereupon all but thirteen members quitted the chamber. Mr. Morton then nominated Mr. Poppleton as Speaker pro tem., and the minority adjourned to meet at the regular place of holding session, on the next day at 9 A.M.
  8. ^ a b Morton, J. Sterling; Watkins, Albert (1918). History of Nebraska: A Revised Edition. Western Publishing and Engraving Company. p. 287.
  9. ^ "Nebraska Constitution of 1866, Article III, Section 17".
  10. ^ a b "Constitution of the State of Nebraska, Article V, Section 18". The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1915 (PDF). p. 168.
  11. ^ State of Nebraska (1936). The Nebraska Blue Book 1936 (PDF). p. 167. From 1877 to date, both houses have been republican, except in 1891, 1893, and 1907 [sic, this should have said 1897], when the populist and democratic parties controlled both houses; in 1909, 1911 , 1915, 1917, 1933 and 1935 when both houses were controlled by the democratic party; and in 1913 when the House was democratic and the Senate republican
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