Thomas Hoctor, 1865-1927 [RG3494.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3494.AM:  Thomas Hoctor, 1865-1927

Scrapbooks (on microfilm):  1888-1927

South Omaha, Douglas County, Neb.:  Politician; Douglas County Commissioner; Mayor of South Omaha

Size:  1 reel of microfilm

BACKGROUND NOTE

Thomas Hoctor was born on a farm near Helena, Minnesota in 1865. His father, Patrick Hoctor, brought the family to Douglas County, Nebraska, in May of 1875. Young Thomas was educated in Omaha, witnessed the early development of South Omaha’s stockyards industry and entered municipal politics at an early age. Thomas Hoctor was a long time Democratic politician and office holder in South Omaha. He served as City Clerk from 1888 to 1890 and City Treasurer from 1890 to 1896. Prior to the completion of his last two-year term as Treasurer, he was elected Douglas County Commissioner for the Fourth District, holding that position through 1900. He also served as Deputy County Auditor before entering mayoral politics in South Omaha in 1902. Although unsuccessful in early races, he was victorious in general elections in 1906, 1910 and 1912 and in a special election in 1913. Hoctor vigorously opposed annexation of South Omaha by the City of Omaha and was Mayor of “The Magic City” when this was finally achieved at the polls in June of 1915. He continued pursuit of his real estate and farming interests until his death in Omaha on April 14, 1927.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one reel of microfilm containing two scrapbooks. The bulk of the material relates to Thomas Hoctor’s career as a Democratic politician and city and county official in South Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Both volumes consist of clippings from several Omaha and South Omaha newspapers, 1892-1915 and a scattering of personal and official correspondence, 1890-1927. The second volume also contains a number of election certificates, 1888-1895.

Note:  See the Nebraska History index and the NSHS Library Catalog for published materials about Thomas Hoctor and the Hoctor family.

DESCRIPTION

1. 1. Clippings, 1892-1901 and Correspondence, 1890-1895

1. 1. Clippings, 1900-1915; Correspondence, 1911-1927; and Election Certificates, 1888-1895

Douglas County (Neb.) — History

Hoctor, Thomas, 1865-1927

Omaha (Neb.) — History

South Omaha (Neb.) — History

Encoded TMM   05-04-2010