William D. Brown

William D. Brown

William D. Brown (c. 1813 – February 3, 1868) was the first pioneer to envision building a city where Omaha, Nebraska sits today.[1] Many historians attribute Brown to be the founder of Omaha, although this has been disputed since the late nineteenth century.[2] Alfred D. Jones, the first postmaster of Omaha, laid strong claims to the title himself, suggesting that he told Brown about the potential for a town.[3] Brown was also a member of the Second Territorial Legislature for the Nebraska Territory.[4]

  1. ^ Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration. (1970) Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. Nebraska State Historical Society. p. 241.
  2. ^ Douglas County. Andreas' history of Nebraska. Retrieved 8/11/07.
  3. ^ "Founding Omaha,"[usurped] Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 8/14/07.
  4. ^ Morton, J.S. and Watkins, A. Annexation to Kansas, History of Nebraska; From the Earliest Explorations of the Trans-Mississippi Region. Lincoln, NE: Western Publishing and Engraving Company. p. 278.