Andrew J. Hanscom
Encyclopedia
Andrew Jackson Hanscom was a pioneer
Omaha, Nebraska
lawyer, politician and real estate
broker.
, Andrew was the youngest child of Irving Hanscom, a pioneer of Macomb County, Michigan
. He was sent to Detroit for elementary school, and later completed high school there, as well. At 17 Hanscom attended Antioch College
in Yellow Springs, Ohio
, and during this period he served as first lieutenant of Company C., First Michigan Infantry, during the Mexican-American War. While in Mexico Hanscom commanded Thomas B. Cuming
, which would be helpful again to him in the future.
After the war Hanscom came to Council Bluffs, Iowa
and opened a mercantile. In 1854 he attended July 4 picnic during which the city was founded. That year he moved across the Missouri River
and built a claim shack and small frame building near 15th and Farnam Streets in present-day Downtown Omaha
. When Alfred Jones
surveyed Omaha later that year he divided it into 320 blocks, after which point Hanscom discovered his claim had been reserved for schools. He quickly traded the land for a 400 acres (1.6 km²) claim belonging to Colonel Sam Bayliss. Late that year Hanscom was appointed colonel of the First Nebraska Regiment, and he helped found the Omaha Claim Club
.
law firm, he served as speaker of the first House of Representatives
of the Nebraska Territory
in 1855. He quickly made enemies within the House as a strong anti-slavery
advocate, and clashed strongly with pro-slavery racists including J. Sterling Morton. As the speaker he was also the unofficial leader of the Omaha promoters in the House.
Hanscom is attributed as being responsible for stoking a feud between Omaha City and Nebraska City
over where a statehood convention would be located. An 1855 motion by Hanscom to designate Omaha City as the place for holding the first statehood convention in 1859 was lost by a vote of 15 to 19. A following motion by Milton W. Reynolds, of Otoe County
to bring that event to Nebraska City was carried by 21 to 13. However, Hanscom led a motion to reconsider the next day, which brought the vote in at 21 to 15. Immediately before the vote Hanscom led a motion to substitute "the capital of the territory" without roll call
.
, in which they called for a new government to rule on the proceedings. The acting governor
Thomas B. Cuming
ruled that the capital would not leave Omaha and the session ended before any further antics could happen. Omaha remained as the Nebraska capitol until statehood in 1867, when it was ceded to Lincoln
. Hanscom was on the committee that wrote the Nebraska State Constitution.
and securities broker in the city. In 1872 he donated 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) to the City of Omaha
which became Hanscom Park
. His motives were suspect because his company, the Omaha Horse Railway
, ended its line at that location, which was undeveloped after several years. However, within a few years Hanscom Park was lauded for its beauty and was the primary park in Omaha
. It still serves as a park in Omaha.
Hanscom lived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City
for several years before his death. Hanscom died of pnemonia in 1907 and was buried in Omaha.
Founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska
The following people were founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska. Their period of influence ranges from 1853 through 1900. Many in this group were members of the Old Settlers' Association and/or the Omaha Claim Club...
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
lawyer, politician and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
broker.
Biography
Born in Pontiac, MichiganPontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, Andrew was the youngest child of Irving Hanscom, a pioneer of Macomb County, Michigan
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
. He was sent to Detroit for elementary school, and later completed high school there, as well. At 17 Hanscom attended Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the location of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census...
, and during this period he served as first lieutenant of Company C., First Michigan Infantry, during the Mexican-American War. While in Mexico Hanscom commanded Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming was an American military officer and politician. He served as the first Secretary of Nebraska Territory and served twice as the territory's Acting Governor, the first time following the death of Francis Burt and the second following the resignation of Mark W...
, which would be helpful again to him in the future.
After the war Hanscom came to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
and opened a mercantile. In 1854 he attended July 4 picnic during which the city was founded. That year he moved across the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and built a claim shack and small frame building near 15th and Farnam Streets in present-day Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
. When Alfred Jones
Alfred D. Jones
Alfred D. Jones was a lawyer, surveyor and politician in the 1900s in the Midwestern United States. In 1846 he platted Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1854 he platted Omaha, Nebraska...
surveyed Omaha later that year he divided it into 320 blocks, after which point Hanscom discovered his claim had been reserved for schools. He quickly traded the land for a 400 acres (1.6 km²) claim belonging to Colonel Sam Bayliss. Late that year Hanscom was appointed colonel of the First Nebraska Regiment, and he helped found the Omaha Claim Club
Omaha Claim Club
The Omaha Claim Club, also called the Omaha Township Claim Association and the Omaha Land Company, was organized in 1854 for the purpose of "encouraging the building of a city" and protecting members' claims in the area platted for Omaha City in the Nebraska Territory. At its peak the club included...
.
Legislative service
While working for A.J. Poppleton'sAndrew Jackson Poppleton
Andrew Jackson Poppleton was the second mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, serving for six months from March 2, 1858-September 14, 1858 before he resigned from office. Poppleton was afterwards an influential real estate businessman and lawyer in Omaha.Poppleton worked for many years as the general attorney...
law firm, he served as speaker of the first House of Representatives
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
of the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
in 1855. He quickly made enemies within the House as a strong anti-slavery
History of slavery in Nebraska
The history of slavery in Nebraska is generally seen as short and limited. The issue was contentious for the legislature between the creation of the Nebraska Territory in 1854 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. However, there was apparently a particular acceptance of African...
advocate, and clashed strongly with pro-slavery racists including J. Sterling Morton. As the speaker he was also the unofficial leader of the Omaha promoters in the House.
Hanscom is attributed as being responsible for stoking a feud between Omaha City and Nebraska City
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Otoe County...
over where a statehood convention would be located. An 1855 motion by Hanscom to designate Omaha City as the place for holding the first statehood convention in 1859 was lost by a vote of 15 to 19. A following motion by Milton W. Reynolds, of Otoe County
Otoe County, Nebraska
-History:Otoe County was formed in 1854. It was named after the Otoe Indian tribe.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,396 people, 6,060 households, and 4,229 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 6,567 housing units...
to bring that event to Nebraska City was carried by 21 to 13. However, Hanscom led a motion to reconsider the next day, which brought the vote in at 21 to 15. Immediately before the vote Hanscom led a motion to substitute "the capital of the territory" without roll call
Roll call
Roll call is the calling of the names of people from a list to determine the presence or absence of the listed people . The term applies to the calling itself, to the time moment of this procedure, and to a military signal that announces it Roll call is the calling of the names of people from a...
.
House brawl
In January 1858 another battle ensued when a bill was introduced that would move the state capital away from Omaha to a new, non-existent town. While this had happened every year since the capital was located in Omaha in 1854, it was different this time because Omaha did not have the votes to stop it. Convening in private, political leaders in the city could not decide which method to use to stop the vote. Hanscom proposed violence, and was taken seriously. The scheme led to a large-scale breakdown on the House floor, including a fight between almost all the members of the body. Hanscom led the events, with his ally Poppleton and others throwing fists and chairs and virtually demolishing the chambers. These events led to the illegal convening of several anti-Omaha legislators in the notorious Florence sessionFlorence, Nebraska
Florence is a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska on the city's north end and originally one of the oldest cities in Nebraska. It was incorporated by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature on March 10, 1857. The site of Winter Quarters for Mormon migrants traveling west, it has the oldest cemetery for...
, in which they called for a new government to rule on the proceedings. The acting governor
Governor of Nebraska
The Governor of Nebraska holds the "supreme executive power" of the State of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Nebraska Constitution. The current Governor is Dave Heineman, a Republican, who assumed office on January 20, 2005 upon the resignation of Mike Johanns . He won a full...
Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming was an American military officer and politician. He served as the first Secretary of Nebraska Territory and served twice as the territory's Acting Governor, the first time following the death of Francis Burt and the second following the resignation of Mark W...
ruled that the capital would not leave Omaha and the session ended before any further antics could happen. Omaha remained as the Nebraska capitol until statehood in 1867, when it was ceded to Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. Hanscom was on the committee that wrote the Nebraska State Constitution.
Later life
Hanscom continued to live in Omaha and became wealthy as a real estateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and securities broker in the city. In 1872 he donated 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) to the City of Omaha
Government of Omaha
The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....
which became Hanscom Park
Hanscom Park
Hanscom Park is a historic neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Its namesake public park is one of the oldest parks in Omaha, donated to the City in 1872. U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was born in a house in the Hanscom Park neighborhood...
. His motives were suspect because his company, the Omaha Horse Railway
Omaha Horse Railway
The Omaha Horse Railway was a private transportation company in early Omaha, Nebraska. The company was founded in 1867 by Omaha pioneers Ezra Millard, Andrew J. Hanscom and Augustus Kountze to provide horsecar service in the city...
, ended its line at that location, which was undeveloped after several years. However, within a few years Hanscom Park was lauded for its beauty and was the primary park in Omaha
Parks in Omaha, Nebraska
This is a list of parks in Omaha, Nebraska. It includes cemeteries and golf courses. Most parks in Omaha are governed by the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department.-History:In 1854 Alfred D. Jones drew four parks on the original map of Omaha City...
. It still serves as a park in Omaha.
Hanscom lived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for several years before his death. Hanscom died of pnemonia in 1907 and was buried in Omaha.