Andrew Jackson Poppleton

Andrew J. Poppleton
Representative, Nebraska Territorial Legislature
In office
July 4, 1854 – December 31, 1855
Preceded by None
Succeeded by None
In office
August 30, 1857 – February 20, 1858
Mayor of Omaha
In office
March 2, 1858 – September 14, 1858
Preceded by Jesse Lowe
Succeeded by George Robert Armstrong
Personal details
Born (1830-07-24)24 July 1830
Died 9 September 1896(1896-09-09) (aged 66)
Omaha, Nebraska
Nationality American
Occupation Lawyer, politician

Andrew Jackson Poppleton (July 24, 1830 – September 9, 1896) was a lawyer and politician in pioneer Omaha, Nebraska. Serving in a variety of roles over his lifetime, his name is present throughout many of the important events of early Omaha history.

Career

Poppleton served in many political roles in pioneer Omaha. One of the founders of the Omaha Claim Club, Poppleton was also heavily involved in the enforcement of its rules over the city. When the club went to the U.S. Supreme Court, it was Poppleton who mounted the defense. They lost. Poppleton was a member of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature in 1854-55 and 1857-58. In a fluke in 1857, Poppleton served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Nebraska Territorial Legislature. After that, he was the second mayor of young Omaha, serving for six months from March 2, 1858 until September 14, 1858, when he resigned from office.[1] Poppleton was afterwards an influential real estate businessman and lawyer in Omaha.

Poppleton worked for many years as the general attorney for the Union Pacific Railroad. The most important case he ever argued was the 1879 trial of Standing Bear v. Crook, held at Fort Omaha. Standing Bear, a Ponca chief, successfully argued in U.S. District Court that Native Americans are "persons within the meaning of the law" and have the rights of citizenship.[2]

Personal life

Poppleton died in 1896 and was interred at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in North Omaha. Poppleton Street in Omaha is named in his honor; the Poppleton Block in Downtown Omaha is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mayors of Omaha", Omaha Public Library. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  2. ↑ More Historical National Register Places in Nebraska Nebraska Historical Society.

External links

Preceded by
Jesse Lowe		 Mayor of Omaha
1857–1858 		Succeeded by
George Robert Armstrong


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