John H. Mickey
Encyclopedia
John Hopwood Mickey was a Nebraska
republican politician
who served as the 13th Governor of Nebraska from 1903 to 1907.
, Des Moines County, Iowa
on September 30, 1845, a son of Oliver Perry Mickey, a pioneer in Iowa, locating there from Pennsylvania in 1836 and Betsy Ann Davidson.
, and it was there his education was attained in the Iowa public school system. After being mustered out of the service, he returned to his Iowa home and for two years was a student at Iowa Wesleyan College
in Mount Pleasant
, Iowa. Upon leaving college, he engaged in school teaching and during the vacation periods he devoted himself to farming.
, in Company D, 8th Iowa cavalry, and served until the close of the war. His regiment was in service in eastern Tennessee and with William Tecumseh Sherman
in his Atlanta Campaign
until the successful surrender of Atlanta on September 2, 1864. He also served in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
. He was honorably mustered out of service in August, 1865.
, Polk County, Iowa
, Morinda McCray, born April 8, 1849 at Fayette, Indiana
, the daughter of James McCray and Mary Harlan. She died on December 23, 1886 at Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska and is buried in Osceola Cemetery. John and Morinda were the parents of 5 children.
He married, as his second wife, on December 8, 1887, at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska
, Flora Cinderella Campbell, the daughter of Benjamin Crawford Campbell and Elizabeth Ann Scott. She was born on November 16, 1861 in Iowa and died on January 16, 1938 at Osceola, Nebraska. She is buried next to her husband in Osceola Cemetery. John and Flora were the parents of 4 children.
arrived on September 3, 1868 and homesteaded. He moved to the town of Osceola in 1872.
In May, 1879, the Osceola Bank, with a capital stock of $5,000 was opened by Mr. Mickey. Ever since its organization Mr. Mickey has been its president. During the financial stringency of 1893, when financial institutions throughout the country were threatened with disaster, Mr. Mickey's bank survived the storm and was the means of assisting many of the business houses and farmers of Polk county in maintaining such credit as enabled them to survive during the depressed times.
Democrat, he always identified as a Republican. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln
in 1864, when he was only nineteen years old, the State of Iowa having passed a special act enabling all soldiers to vote irrespective of age.
Shortly after settling in Nebraska, Mickey was elected treasurer of Polk County. After 10 years as treasurer, he served two terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives. He was elected governor of Nebraska in 1902 and re-elected in 1904. His failed attempt to arbitrate strikes in Omaha between Gurdon Wattles
's Omaha Traction Company
and union organizers in 1903 marked the rest of his administration.
During his tenure as Governor, numerous pardons were granted; an improved state auditing system was initiated; and a direct primary law was promoted.
, Nebraska.
He was an active member of the Osceola Methodist Episcopal Church
, and for many years was a trustee of his church and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a lifelong supporter of the Temperance movement
, and served as president of the Board of Trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University
.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
republican politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the 13th Governor of Nebraska from 1903 to 1907.
Early life and ancestors
He was born near BurlingtonBurlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
, Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,325 in the county, with a population density of . There were 18,535 housing units, of which 17,003 were occupied.-2000 census:...
on September 30, 1845, a son of Oliver Perry Mickey, a pioneer in Iowa, locating there from Pennsylvania in 1836 and Betsy Ann Davidson.
Education
In 1847, his parents moved the family removed to Louisa County, IowaLouisa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,387 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,002 housing units, of which 4,346 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and it was there his education was attained in the Iowa public school system. After being mustered out of the service, he returned to his Iowa home and for two years was a student at Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River...
in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
, Iowa. Upon leaving college, he engaged in school teaching and during the vacation periods he devoted himself to farming.
Military service
In 1863, he enlisted as a private in the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, in Company D, 8th Iowa cavalry, and served until the close of the war. His regiment was in service in eastern Tennessee and with William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
in his Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
until the successful surrender of Atlanta on September 2, 1864. He also served in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
Franklin-Nashville Campaign
The Franklin-Nashville Campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee Campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt....
. He was honorably mustered out of service in August, 1865.
Marriage and family
He married as his first wife, on September 10, 1867 at Des MoinesDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Polk County, Iowa
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
, Morinda McCray, born April 8, 1849 at Fayette, Indiana
Fayette, Indiana
Fayette is an unincorporated town in Perry Township, Boone County, Indiana, USA....
, the daughter of James McCray and Mary Harlan. She died on December 23, 1886 at Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska and is buried in Osceola Cemetery. John and Morinda were the parents of 5 children.
He married, as his second wife, on December 8, 1887, at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska
Polk County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km²...
, Flora Cinderella Campbell, the daughter of Benjamin Crawford Campbell and Elizabeth Ann Scott. She was born on November 16, 1861 in Iowa and died on January 16, 1938 at Osceola, Nebraska. She is buried next to her husband in Osceola Cemetery. John and Flora were the parents of 4 children.
Career
He moved with his young bride and child to Polk County, NebraskaPolk County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km²...
arrived on September 3, 1868 and homesteaded. He moved to the town of Osceola in 1872.
In May, 1879, the Osceola Bank, with a capital stock of $5,000 was opened by Mr. Mickey. Ever since its organization Mr. Mickey has been its president. During the financial stringency of 1893, when financial institutions throughout the country were threatened with disaster, Mr. Mickey's bank survived the storm and was the means of assisting many of the business houses and farmers of Polk county in maintaining such credit as enabled them to survive during the depressed times.
Political career
Even though his father was a Stephen A. DouglasStephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
Democrat, he always identified as a Republican. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 1864, when he was only nineteen years old, the State of Iowa having passed a special act enabling all soldiers to vote irrespective of age.
Shortly after settling in Nebraska, Mickey was elected treasurer of Polk County. After 10 years as treasurer, he served two terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives. He was elected governor of Nebraska in 1902 and re-elected in 1904. His failed attempt to arbitrate strikes in Omaha between Gurdon Wattles
Gurdon Wattles
Gurdon Wallace Wattles was an early businessman, banker and civic leader in Omaha, Nebraska who became responsible for bankrolling much of early Hollywood...
's Omaha Traction Company
Omaha Traction Company
The Omaha Traction Company was a privately-owned public transportation business in Omaha, Nebraska. Created in the early 1900s by wealthy Omaha banker Gurdon Wattles, the company was involved in a series of contentious disputes with organized labor....
and union organizers in 1903 marked the rest of his administration.
During his tenure as Governor, numerous pardons were granted; an improved state auditing system was initiated; and a direct primary law was promoted.
Post career
After retiring as governor, John Mickey returned to OsceolaOsceola, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 921 people, 381 households, and 235 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,036.8 people per square mile . There were 417 housing units at an average density of 469.4 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.57%...
, Nebraska.
He was an active member of the Osceola Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
, and for many years was a trustee of his church and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a lifelong supporter of the Temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, and served as president of the Board of Trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
.