Herman Kountze [RG1144.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1144.AM:  Herman Kountze, 1833-1906

Manuscripts, etc.:  1822-1930; mostly 1853-1883
Size:  Three items

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of two manuscripts and one letter. The manuscripts, written by Eugenie Kountze Nicholson in 1930, provide biographical sketches about her grandfathers, Christian Kountze and Thomas Davis, both of whom were early settlers of Omaha, Nebraska. Fred Davis, Nicholson’s uncle, provides additional biographical information about Thomas Davis and his extended family in a 1930 letter written to Nicholson. Herman Kountze, Nicholson’s father, started the First National Bank of Omaha. A brief account of that along with additional information about other Kountze family members is also provided in the manuscript.

Thomas Davis was a builder in Omaha, but at one point he also ran a sawmill and flour mill. He also served in the Nebraska Territorial Legislature. For a number of years (1868-1890) he and his partner, Edward Sinker, owned an iron foundry in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nicholson writes of Davis’ many interests and gives a physical description of Davis. Information about early Omaha in the 1850s is contained in the manuscripts.

Note:  See the Nebraska History Index and the Library Catalog for additional materials relating to the Kountze and Davis families and to the First National Bank of Omaha.

INVENTORY

Item

  1. Christian Kountze bio by Eugenie Kountze Nicholson
  2. Thomas Davis bio by Eugenie Kountze Nicholson
  3. Thomas Davis info by Fred Davis

Subject headings:

Bankers — Biography
Banks and banking — Nebraska
Davies family
Davis family
Davis, Frederick H., 1853-1935
Davis, Thomas, 1822-1895
Douglas County (Nebraska) — History
First National Bank of Omaha (Nebraska)
Foundries — Indiana — Indianapolis
Kountze family
Kountze, Christian, 1795-1866
Kountze, Elizabeth (Davis), 1844-1890
Kountze, Herman, 1833-1906
Kunz family
Nicholson, Eugenia (Kountze), 1867-1931
Omaha (Nebraska) — History
Sinker, Davis & Company (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Sinker, Edward T., 1820-1872


Revised TMM        05-04-2009

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Marker Monday: World War II Hero Charles Jackson French

Marker Monday: World War II Hero Charles Jackson French

American Archives Month: 9 Types of Photographs

American Archives Month: 9 Types of Photographs

Nebraska History Spotlight: Burt County Museum

Nebraska History Spotlight: Burt County Museum

About 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 Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS 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 NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

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

NSHS'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

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. 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.