Robert Wilkinson Furnas
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Robert Wilkinson Furnas (1824 - 1905) was the third Governor of Nebraska . He came to Nebraska in 1856 at age 32. Two months later he published the Nebraska Advertiser, a publication advertising the agricultural opportunities found in Nebraska. He also published the Nebraska Farmer, the first agricultural publication out of Nebraska. In the fall of 1856 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nebraska Territory.
During the Civil War, Furnas became a colonel of the territorial militia. In 1862 he commanded three Indian regiments and captured the Cherokee Indian, Chief John Ross. He later served as Indian agent for the Omaha, Winnebago, and Ponca tribes.
He held many other positions including:
- Member of the University of Nebraska board of regents (1869-1875)
- First president of the Nebraska State Historical Society (1878 -1890)
- United States commissioner to Philadelphia Centennial Exposition
- United States commissioner to New Orleans Cotton Centennial,
- United States commissioner to the Chicago Columbian Exposition,
- President of the American Fair Association
- President of the State Board of Agriculture
- President of the State Horticultural Society
He also helped to create Arbor Day when he was governor. Furnas County, Nebraska is named in his honor.
| Preceded by William H. James |
Governor of Nebraska 1873 – 1875 |
Succeeded by Silas Garber |
[edit] References
- The Political Graveyard. Robert Wilkinson Furnas. Retrieved on January 2, 2006.
- Robert Wilkinson Furnas. Robert Wilkinson Furnas. Retrieved on January 2, 2006.
[edit] External link
| Governors of Nebraska |  |
|---|---|
| Butler • James • Furnas • Garber • Nance • Dawes • Thayer • Boyd • Thayer • Boyd • Crounse • Holcomb • Poynter • Dietrich • Savage • Mickey • Sheldon • Shallenberger • Aldrich • Morehead • Neville • McKelvie • Bryan • McMullen • Weaver • Bryan • Cochran • Griswold • Peterson • Crosby • Anderson • Brooks • Burney • Morrison • Tiemann • Exon • Thone • Kerrey • Orr • Nelson • Johanns • Heineman |
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