List of speakers of the Nebraska House of Representatives explained

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

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. 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]

NameSession startSession endCounty of residencePartyNotes
1Jan 16, 1855Mar 16, 1855Douglas
2Dec 18, 1855Jan 26, 1856Washington
3Jan 5, 1857Feb 18, 1857Otoe
4Dec 8, 1857Jan 16, 1858OtoeDeparted with the majority faction that went to Florence, Nebraska, and remained speaker of that contingent.[5]
Jan 7, 1858Jan 7, 1858OtoeDemSpeaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha.[6]
Jan 8, 1858Jan 16, 1858DouglasDemSpeaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha.[7] Later served as the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.
5Sep 21, 1858Nov 4, 1858OtoeRep
6Dec 5, 1859Jan 13, 1860SarpyDem[8]
7Dec 3, 1860Jan 11, 1861WashingtonRep
8Dec 2, 1861Jan 10, 1862Douglas
9Jan 7, 1864Feb 15, 1864DouglasLater served as a Nebraska Supreme Court justice
10Jan 5, 1865Feb 13, 1865CassRep
11Jan 4, 1866Feb 12, 1866DouglasDem
12Jan 10, 1867Feb 18, 1867CassRepLater served as the second speaker of the House of Representatives and as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska

Speakers of the Nebraska House of Representatives

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. 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.

NameTenurePlace of residenceParty[11] Notes
11866BrownvilleRep
21867–1868Cass CountyRepPreviously served as the last speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives; later served as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska
31869–1870Otoe CountyRep
41871–1872Pawnee CityRep
51873–1874Lancaster CountyRep
61875–1876Falls CityRep
71877–1878OsceolaRepLater served as Governor of Nebraska
81879–1880NorfolkRep
91881–1882AshlandRepLater served as Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
101883–1884Pawnee CityRep
111885–1886LincolnRep
121887–1888YorkRep
131889–1890Nebraska CityRepLater served as president pro tempore of the Nebraska Senate
141891–1892Clay CenterFus
151893–1894ColonFusLater served as the 17th speaker
161895–1896HebronRep
171897–1898ColonFusPreviously served as the 15th speaker
181899–1900LincolnRep
191901–1902TekamahRep
201903–1904LincolnRep
211905–1906AldaRep
221907–1908Spring RanchRep
231909–1910TecumsehDemLater served as Nebraska Secretary of State
241911–1912RandolphDem
251913–1914Grand IslandDem
261915–1918NelsonDem
271919–1920BeatriceRep
281921–1922LincolnRep
291923–1924GeringRep
301925–1926BancroftRep
311927–1928OmahaRep
321929–1930BridgeportRep
331931–1932LincolnRep
341933–1934GreeleyDem
351935–1936LaurelDem

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Nebraska Blue Book 2022-23. State of Nebraska. 2023. 394-395.
  2. Book: Andreas, A. T.. History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. 1882. The First Legislature.
  3. Book: The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1915. Territorial Legislatures. 21-29.
  4. Book: Andreas, A. T.. History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. 1882. The Florence Secession.
  5. Book: Andreas, A. T.. History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. 1882. The Florence Secession. 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. Book: Andreas, A. T.. History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. 1882. The Florence Secession. 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. Book: Andreas, A. T.. History of the State of Nebraska. The Western Historical Company. 1882. The Florence Secession. 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. Book: History of Nebraska: A Revised Edition. J. Sterling. Morton. Albert. Watkins. 1918. Western Publishing and Engraving Company. 287.
  9. Web site: Nebraska Constitution of 1866, Article III, Section 17.
  10. Book: The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1915. Constitution of the State of Nebraska, Article V, Section 18. 168.
  11. Book: The Nebraska Blue Book 1936. 1936. State of Nebraska. 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.