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. 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. Twelve individuals are officially recognized as having served as speaker of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives during its twelve sessions 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.
#NameSession startSession endCounty of residencePartyNotes1Jan 16, 1855Mar 16, 1855Douglas2Dec 18, 1855Jan 26, 1856Washington3Jan 5, 1857Feb 18, 1857Otoe4Dec 8, 1857Jan 16, 1858OtoeDeparted with the majority faction that went to Florence, Nebraska, and remained speaker of that contingent. –Jan 7, 1858Jan 7, 1858Otoe DemSpeaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha. –Jan 8, 1858Jan 16, 1858Douglas DemSpeaker pro tempore of the minority faction that remained at Omaha. Later served as the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.5Sep 21, 1858Nov 4, 1858Otoe Rep6Dec 5, 1859Jan 13, 1860Sarpy Dem7Dec 3, 1860Jan 11, 1861Washington Rep8Dec 2, 1861Jan 10, 1862Douglas9Jan 7, 1864Feb 15, 1864Douglas RepLater served as a Nebraska Supreme Court justice10Jan 5, 1865Feb 13, 1865Cass Rep11Jan 4, 1866Feb 12, 1866Douglas Dem12Jan 10, 1867Feb 18, 1867Cass RepLater 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. The Nebraska Constitution of 1875 likewise mentioned the office of speaker of the House of Representatives. 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 residencePartyNotes11866Brownville Rep21867–1868Cass County RepPreviously served as the last speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives; later served as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska31869–1870Otoe County Rep41871–1872Pawnee City Rep51873–1874Lancaster County Rep61875–1876Falls City Rep71877–1878Osceola RepLater served as Governor of Nebraska81879–1880Norfolk Rep91881–1882Ashland RepLater served as Nebraska Lieutenant Governor101883–1884Pawnee City Rep111885–1886Lincoln Rep121887–1888York Rep131889–1890Nebraska City RepLater served as president pro tempore of the Nebraska Senate141891–1892Clay Center Fus151893–1894Colon FusLater served as the 17th speaker161895–1896Hebron Rep171897–1898Colon FusPreviously served as the 15th speaker181899–1900Lincoln Rep191901–1902Tekamah Rep201903–1904Lincoln Rep211905–1906Alda Rep221907–1908Spring Ranch Rep231909–1910Tecumseh DemLater served as Nebraska Secretary of State241911–1912Randolph Dem251913–1914Grand Island Dem261915–1918Nelson Dem271919–1920Beatrice Rep281921–1922Lincoln Rep291923–1924Gering Rep301925–1926Bancroft Rep311927–1928Omaha Rep321929–1930Bridgeport Rep331931–1932Lincoln Rep341933–1934Greeley Dem351935–1936Laurel Dem
See also List of Nebraska state legislatures
Notes
References