Timeline Tuesday: Saint Andre Durand Balcombe

Saint Andre Durand Balcombe. From Omaha Illustrated (1888).

 

  Saint Andre Durand Balcombe (1829-1904), a pioneer Indian agent and newspaper editor of Omaha, was a builder not only of Omaha and the state of Nebraska but of the West as well. During his association with the Omaha Republican from 1866 to 1876, its editorials were remarkable for their “terseness and vigor of style,” qualities which sometimes got Balcombe into trouble. An article in the Republican on Edward Rosewater, editor of the rival Omaha Bee, caused a long-remembered confrontation between Rosewater and Balcombe on a downtown Omaha street in July 1873. Balcombe had published in the Republican what Rosewater considered an insulting article about him. The Bee’s publisher promptly responded with a note demanding a public apology. Balcombe replied that Rosewater would “get his fill of satisfaction for the article that appeared in these columns yesterday.” During a later meeting at Fourteenth and Douglas streets, Rosewater lashed at Balcombe with a cowhide whip. The Republican’s editor, however, was a taller man than Rosewater and soon landed him on the sidewalk. Each editor claimed victory in his paper the next day, although witnesses generally agreed that Rosewater came out second best. A native of New York state, Balcombe moved with his family to Winona, Minnesota, in 1845. He lived in Elgin, Illinois, for a time and then in 1854 moved to Winona, Minnesota. Balcombe was elected to the Minnesota territorial legislature in 1855 and to the state legislature in 1857. He was elected a regent of the University of Minnesota in 1857; and served as a Republican member of the constitutional convention of 1857. In March 1861, he was appointed agent for the Winnebago Indians in Minnesota by President Abraham Lincoln, and reappointed by Lincoln from Dakota Territory in March 1865. Balcombe settled in Omaha in May 1865, where he purchased the Omaha Republican, assuming editorial control of the leading Republican newspaper in Nebraska. One of Balcombe’s first acts after acquiring the Republican was to enlarge the paper. At the time he became connected with it, the daily was a six-column sheet. He soon enlarged it to seven columns and otherwise improved it by putting the advertisements in new type. He served as its editor and proprietor until 1871, when he disposed of a half interest to Waldo M. Potter. The paper was afterwards merged into a stock company, and Balcombe retired from its active management in 1876. He later maintained that “no Nebraska democrat was elected to congress or as a state official during my management of the policy of the Republican.” In November 1865 President Andrew Johnson removed Balcombe as agent to the Winnebago. He never forgot or forgave this act by Johnson. Balcombe’s obituary, completed only a few hours before his death and published by the Omaha World-Herald on May 7, 1904, called Johnson an “arch traitor to the republican party and its principles, who appointed Colonel [Charles P.] Mathewson my successor.”

Note: the word Indian is used instead of Native American as it was the norm at the time.

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Marker Monday: Kearney Cotton Mill

Marker Monday: Kearney Cotton Mill

No Irish Babies Born in Nebraska in 1912

No Irish Babies Born in Nebraska in 1912

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, First Native American Woman Physician

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, First Native American Woman Physician

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.