Creating a Capital

In a nasty twist of luck, Thomas B. Cuming, secretary of state, became acting governor of the new Nebraska territory in 1854.

Cuming, a man of few morals, had a claim jumper on his Omaha City property dunked to death in the Missouri.

As acting territorial governor, Cuming created eight new counties along the Missouri, half south of the Platte River, half north. He gave each county the same number of legislators, even though twice as many folks lived south of the Platte (1,818) as north (914). 

But those south Platters were Democrats, not like his buddies the Republicans. 

Cuming had some legislators left over, so he gave them all to Douglas County. He counted on those Republican votes to make his home, Omaha City, capital of the brand new territory.

It worked. 

That rascal!

Coming April 28 

THIEVES, RASCALS & SORE LOSERS:

The Unsettling History of the Dirty 

Deals that Helped Settle Nebraska

by Marilyn June Coffey