James Dahlman

James Charles Dahlman
Mayor of Omaha
In office
1906–1918
Preceded byHarry B. Zimman
Succeeded byEdward Parsons Smith
In office
1921–1930
Preceded byEdward Parsons Smith
Succeeded byJohn H. Hopkins
Personal details
Born(1856-12-15)15 December 1856
DeWitt County, Texas
Died21 January 1930(1930-01-21) (aged 73)
Omaha, Nebraska
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHattie Abbott Dahlman
ChildrenRuth Baughman, Dorothy Dahlman
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionCattle industry

James Charles Dahlman (December 15, 1856 – January 21, 1930), also known as Jim Dahlman, Cowboy Jim and Mayor Jim, was elected to eight terms as mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, serving the city for 20 years over a 23-year-period. A German-American and an agnostic,[1] Dahlman grew up in a ranching area and started working as a Texas cowboy. He was elected as a county sheriff and small town mayor in western Nebraska before moving to Omaha.

Called the "perpetual Mayor" in Omaha, Dahlman was seen by many as a cover man for the city's vice elements. Earning the reputation as the "wettest mayor in America", Dahlman saw the number of saloons in Omaha double during his first 10 years as mayor. The term "Dahlmanism" was coined to describe his politics.[2]

  1. ^ Folsom, B.W. (1999) No More Free Markets Or Free Beer: The Progressive Era in Nebraska, 1900-1924 Lexington Books. p 59.
  2. ^ Folsom, Burton Jr; Folsom, Burton W. (1999). No More Free Markets Or Free Beer: The Progressive Era in Nebraska, 1900-1924. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-0014-1.