Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas Barney Cuming | |
---|---|
Governor of Nebraska Territory | |
In office October 18, 1854 – February 23, 1855 | |
Appointed by | Franklin Pierce |
Preceded by | Francis Burt as Territorial Governor |
Succeeded by | Mark W. Izard as Territorial Governor |
In office October 25, 1857 – January 12, 1858 | |
Appointed by | James Buchanan |
Preceded by | Mark W. Izard as Territorial Governor |
Succeeded by | William Alexander Richardson as Territorial Governor |
Personal details | |
Born | Genesee County, New York | December 25, 1827
Died | March 12, 1858 Omaha, Nebraska Territory | (aged 30)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Margaret C. Murphy |
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Thomas B. Cuming (December 25, 1827 – March 12, 1858) was an American
Background
Cuming was born in
In November 1847, during the
Nebraska
Cuming was appointed Secretary of the newly formed Nebraska Territory at the age of 25 and arrived to assume his duties on October 8, 1854.[3] Ten days later, with the death of Governor Francis Burt, Cuming became Acting Governor.[4]
Among his first duties as Acting Governor, Cuming ordered a census of the territory and preparations for the territory's first legislative session. Despite Governor Burt's intention to have the capital in Bellevue, Cuming chose to place it in Omaha.[4] The choice of a location north of the Platte River, while beneficial to Cuming's political allies in Council Bluffs, Iowa, angered many of the territory's 2,732 residents, 1,818 of whom lived south of the river. The Acting Governor further complicated the situation by allocating a majority of the legislative representation to counties north of the river.[5] As a result, when the legislature convened on January 16, 1855, it dedicated most of its energies in examining Cuming's role in making Omaha the territorial capital.[4]
He was accused of successfully using fraud and bribery to designate Omaha the state capital. The Nebraska Palladium reported in 1855: "Men have been bought—four thousand dollars was offered to John M. Singleton, of Richardson county, if he would vote for the Capitol being located at Omaha City; and it was offered [to] him by the Private Secretary of Acting Governor Cuming."[6]
With the arrival of Governor Mark W. Izard, Cuming resumed his role as Territorial Secretary. The political split between north and south continued however, with a short lived effort to have southern Nebraska annexed into Kansas taking place.[5] Following the resignation of Governor Izard, Cuming again became Acting Governor until the arrival of Governor William Alexander Richardson.[7]
Cuming died on March 12, 1858, at the age of 30.
References
- ^ McMullin & Walker 1984, p. 249.
- ^ McMullin & Walker 1984, pp. 249–50.
- ^ a b c McMullin & Walker 1984, p. 250.
- ^ a b c McMullin & Walker 1984, p. 223.
- ^ a b Rodriguez 2002, p. 244.
- ^ "FRAUD -- BRIBERY!". Nebraska Palladium. January 31, 1855. p. 3.
- ^ McMullin & Walker 1984, p. 225.
- ^ Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau 1915, p. 9.
- ^ Gannett 1905, p. 97.
- Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 97.
- McMullin, Thomas A.; Walker, David (1984). Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing. ISBN 0-930466-11-X.
- Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau (1915). Sheldon, Addison E. (ed.). Nebraska blue book. Lincoln: Nebraska Legislative Council. p. 9. OCLC 1759572.
- Morton, Julius Sterling; Watkins, Albert (1918). History of Nebraska from the earliest explorations of the trans-Mississippi region. Lincoln, Nebraska: Western Publishing and Engraving Company. p. 249. OCLC 17692533.
Thomas Cuming.
- Rodriguez, Junius P. (2002). The Louisiana Purchase: a historical and geographical encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-188-X.