But He Looks So Natural!

Body of John O'Connor (NSHS Public Records)



Source: Nebraska State Historical Society Public RecordsĀ 



John O’Connor died on August 17, 1913, in Hastings, leaving no known heirs or will and a $100,000 fortune. Suddenly heirs began coming out of the woodwork. During court proceedings to determine who would receive O’Connor’s money, the county judge ruled that O’Connor’s body should not be buried. It was kept in an air- and watertight vault at a local morgue to “be preserved there indefinitely pending positive identification by relatives.”



On February 10, 1916, more than two and a half years after his death, O’Connor was finally buried. Judicial proceedings in the case continued for nearly twelve more years before O’Connor’s money lapsed to the state.Ā 

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AboutĀ NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 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 NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Director Daryl Bohac. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

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