Silas Alexander Holcomb (August 25, 1858 – April 25, 1920) was a

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

lawyer and politician elected as the ninth Governor of Nebraska and serving from 1895 to 1899. He ran under a fusion ticket between the

Populist Populism is a contested concept used to refer to a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the " common people" and often position this group in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establis ...

and the Democratic Party. Holcomb was born in Gibson County, Indiana, helped on the family farm and went to the local schools in winter. At age seventeen, he began to teach school. After his father's death in 1878, he moved with mother and siblings to Hamilton County, Nebraska in 1879. He worked in Thummel & Platt law office in Grand Island and was admitted to the Nebraska bar in 1882. On April 13, 1882, he married Martha Alice Brinson in Mills County, Iowa. They moved to Broken Bow where he farmed and practiced law.

Career

From 1891 to 1894, Holcomb served as a 12th District judge. In 1894, with the support of

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. He was a dominant force in the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, running three times as the party' ...

, he was elected Governor of Nebraska. He was re-elected in 1896. During his tenure, sounder financial policies were initiated and corruption and mismanagement in the state treasurer's office was addressed; reforms in state government programs were initiated. Following his years as governor, Holcomb was appointed a judge of the

Nebraska Supreme Court The Nebraska Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices. Each justice is initially appointed by the governor of Nebraska; using the Missouri Plan, each ...

in 1899. From 1904 to 1906, he served as

chief judge Chief judge may refer to: In lower or circuit courts The highest-ranking or most senior member of a lower court or circuit court with more than one judge. * Chief judge (Australia) * Chief judge (United States) In supreme courts Some of Chief ...

. He left the Court in 1906, but then he served on the Nebraska Board of Commissioners of State Institutions from 1913 until his failing health made it necessary for him to resign. In 1896, Holcomb was accused of tampering with ballots regarding constitutional amendments. In 1899, ''The Norfolk Weekly News'' accused Holcomb of ballot fraud in an attempt to "steal two seats on the supreme bench" in a party meeting. During balloting, it was alleged that votes were changed, and that when a recount was asked for, "Holcomb paid no attention to their suggestions." He was ultimately appointed to serve on the court in 1899.

Death

Holcomb moved to

Bellingham, Washington Bellingham ( ) is the county seat of Whatcom County, Washington, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. It lies south of the Canada–United States border, U.S.–Canada border, between Vancouver, British Columbia, ...

, where he lived with his daughter until his death on April 25, 1920. Holcomb's body was returned to Nebraska and he is interred at Broken Bow Cemetery, Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebraska.

References

External links

* at the

Nebraska State Historical Society Nebraska State Historical Society, formerly History Nebraska, is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information ... and to embrace alike aboriginal and modern history." It w ...

. Retrieved on 2009-07-06.
The Political Graveyard
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holcomb, Silas Alexander 1858 births 1920 deaths People from Gibson County, Indiana Democratic Party governors of Nebraska Nebraska state court judges People from Broken Bow, Nebraska People from Hamilton County, Nebraska People's Party state governors of the United States Chief justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court Nebraska Populists