William A. Paxton
William A. Paxton | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | July 18, 1907[1] | (aged 70)
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Cattle, investment |
Known for | Businessman, politician |
William A. Paxton (January 26, 1837 – July 18, 1907) was an American
Early life
Paxton was born in Springfield, Kentucky on January 26, 1837,[5][6] and raised there until age twelve when his family moved to Missouri. Employed by a local farmer, by the age of fifteen he started his own business breaking prairie sod for new settlers in the area. Paxton worked as a farm manager until he was 25.[7]
Career
In 1862 Paxton went to Omaha and became the foreman of a bridge building crew on the
In 1867 the Union Pacific Railroad contracted with Paxton to
Paxton next bought cattle at Abilene, Kansas, and drove them to Omaha, where he sold them and used the money to go into ranching near Ogallala, Nebraska. Supplying beef to area Indian agencies for the next five years, Paxton operated the Keystone Cattle Company ranch at Ogallala and also owned ranches near Hyannis and Paxton, Nebraska, which was named for him. Paxton returned to Omaha in 1875, but did not sell his ranches until 1883.[10]
In 1879 Paxton became a principal stockholder in the
Omaha Stockyards
In 1878 Paxton helped form the first Union Stockyards Company in Omaha, but soon afterwards it was moved to
Politics
Paxton was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1881 and served in the Nebraska Senate in 1889.[13]
Legacy
William A. Paxton's name was given to the Paxton Block of office buildings which he constructed at South 16th and Farnam Streets in Downtown Omaha; the Paxton Hotel which he assisted with financial help,[18] and; Paxton Boulevard in South Omaha. He also built Omaha's Ware Block, which is named for his wife, Mary Jane Ware, the Granite Block, and the old Merchants Hotel in Omaha.
The town of Paxton, Nebraska was named for him, as well. Located near there was a town called Keystone, Nebraska, named after Paxton's brand;[19] the neighborhood in Omaha called Keystone is also named for Paxton's brand.[20]
The Paxton and Gallagher Wholesale Grocery firm was sold to Gilbert C. Swanson and W. Clarke Swanson and renamed Butternut Foods in 1958. In 1963, Paxton was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[21]
See also
References
- ^ William A. Paxton. PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ Larsen, L. and Cotrell, B.J. (1997) The Gate City: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p 72.
- ^ (1957) "Stock Yards Firm Encouraged Packers to Locate Here; William A. Paxton Had Key Role in Founding Industry", Omaha's First Century. Supplement to the Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ Street Names, Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ "William A. Paxton Dead". The Vian Press. 26 July 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "He was Bill Paxton at Home". Sioux City Journal. 20 July 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ (1999) "William A. Paxton" Archived 2007-08-12 at the Wayback Machine, Nebraska Department of Education. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ Notable Nebraskans[usurped]. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 5/30/08. p 105.
- ^ Leighton, G.R. (1939) Five Cities: The Story of Their Youth and Old Age. Ayer Publishing. p. 171.
- ^ "Horse Cars, Street Lights, RR Bridge Were Added by '73", HistoricOmaha.com. Retrieved 5/30/08.
- ^ "Nebraska minor league baseball before 1900", Creighton University. Retrieved 5/30/08.
- ^ "Jobbers"[usurped], Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ (2006) Newsletter. Douglas County Historical Society. p 5. Retrieved 5/30/08.
- ^ Larsen, Cotrell, Daub and Daub. (2007) Upstream metropolis: An urban biography of Omaha and Council Bluffs. University of Nebraska Press. p 110.
- ^ "Omaha Union Stockyards; Annual Meeting of Shareholders -Armour Contract Approved", The New York Times. December 15, 1897. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ "Wide Open Town' a Pioneer Policy; But Schools, Hospitals and Cultural Events Were Not Long in Coming", Omaha's First Century. Supplement to the Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ Newsletter, Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ "Keystone Memories", Retrieved 5/29/08.
- ^ (2004) January Newsletter. Keystone Neighborhood Association. Retrieved 5/28/08.
- ^ "Hall of Great Westerners". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved November 22, 2019.