Thomas B. Cuming
Encyclopedia
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. Izard
.
on December 25, 1827. The son of an Episcopal
minister, his mother died when he was a young child. Following his mothers death he was raise by his uncle, a Prebysterian residing in Rochester, New York
. Cuming was admitted to The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor at an early age and graduated at the age of sixteen. Following his graduation he worked as a geologist
in a scientific expedition exploring the Lake Superior
region for minerals.
With the outbreak of the Mexican–American War
, Cuming enlisted as a lieutenant
. His assigned duties kept him away from battle for the course of the hostilities. Following the war he became a telegraph operator in Keokuk, Iowa
. Looking to advance himself, he began writing articles for the Keokuk Dispatch. Reaction to these articles was extremely favorable and Cuming was made editor of the newspaper. During his time in Keokuk, he also married Margaret C. Murphy.
of the newly formed Nebraska Territory
at the age of 25 and arrived to assume his duties on October 8, 1854. Ten days later, with the death of Governor Francis Burt
, Cuming became Acting Governor.
Among his first duties as Acting Governor, Cuming ordered a census
of the territory and preparations for the territory's first legislative session. Despite Governor Burt's intention to have the capital
in Bellevue
, Cuming chose to place it in Omaha
. The choice of a location north of the Platte River
, while beneficial to Cuming's political allies in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, angered many of the territory's 2,732 residents, 1,818 of whom lived south of the river. The Acting Governor further complicated the situation by allocating a majority of the legislative representation to counties north of the river. As a result, when the legislature convened on January 16, 1885, it dedicated most of its energies in examining Cuming's role in making Omaha the territorial capital.
With the arrival of Governor Mark W. Izard
, Cuming resumed his role as Territorial Secretary. The political split between north and south continued however, with a short lived effort to have southern Nebraska annexed into Kansas
taking place. Following the resignation of Governor Izard, Cuming again became Acting Governor until the arrival of Governor William Alexander Richardson
.
Cuming died on March 12, 1858.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer and politician. He served as the first Secretary of 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...
and served twice as the territory's Acting Governor, the first time following the death of Francis Burt
Francis Burt (Nebraska)
Francis Burt was an American politician politician from South Carolina who served as the first Governor of Nebraska Territory.-Background:...
and the second following the resignation of Mark W. Izard
Mark W. Izard
Mark Whitaker Izard was an Arkansas Democratic politician is best known for being the 3rd Governor of the Nebraska Territory....
.
Background
Cuming was born in Genesee County, New YorkGenesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
on December 25, 1827. The son of an Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
minister, his mother died when he was a young child. Following his mothers death he was raise by his uncle, a Prebysterian residing in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Cuming was admitted to The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor at an early age and graduated at the age of sixteen. Following his graduation he worked as a geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
in a scientific expedition exploring the Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
region for minerals.
With the outbreak of the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
, Cuming enlisted as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. His assigned duties kept him away from battle for the course of the hostilities. Following the war he became a telegraph operator in Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
. Looking to advance himself, he began writing articles for the Keokuk Dispatch. Reaction to these articles was extremely favorable and Cuming was made editor of the newspaper. During his time in Keokuk, he also married Margaret C. Murphy.
Nebraska
Cuming was appointed SecretarySecretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
of the newly formed 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...
at the age of 25 and arrived to assume his duties on October 8, 1854. Ten days later, with the death of Governor Francis Burt
Francis Burt (Nebraska)
Francis Burt was an American politician politician from South Carolina who served as the first Governor of Nebraska Territory.-Background:...
, Cuming became Acting Governor.
Among his first duties as Acting Governor, Cuming ordered a census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the territory and preparations for the territory's first legislative session. Despite Governor Burt's intention to have the capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
in Bellevue
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...
, Cuming chose to place it in Omaha
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...
. The choice of a location north of the Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
, while beneficial to Cuming's political allies in 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...
, angered many of the territory's 2,732 residents, 1,818 of whom lived south of the river. The Acting Governor further complicated the situation by allocating a majority of the legislative representation to counties north of the river. As a result, when the legislature convened on January 16, 1885, it dedicated most of its energies in examining Cuming's role in making Omaha the territorial capital.
With the arrival of Governor Mark W. Izard
Mark W. Izard
Mark Whitaker Izard was an Arkansas Democratic politician is best known for being the 3rd Governor of the Nebraska Territory....
, Cuming resumed his role as Territorial Secretary. The political split between north and south continued however, with a short lived effort to have southern Nebraska annexed into Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
taking place. Following the resignation of Governor Izard, Cuming again became Acting Governor until the arrival of Governor William Alexander Richardson
William Alexander Richardson
William Alexander Richardson was a prominent Illinois Democrat politician before and during the American Civil War....
.
Cuming died on March 12, 1858.