27 Facts About James Dahlman

James Charles Dahlman was born in Yorktown, DeWitt County, Texas, in 1856.

James Dahlman was the eldest son of Charles and Mary Dahlman, both German Americans.

James Dahlman was known as an expert with the lariat.

In 1878, at the age of 22, James Dahlman killed his brother-in-law during an argument and fled to western Nebraska, where he used the name "Jim Murray".

James Dahlman later learned a judge ruled the killing was self-defense.

In late 1884, James Dahlman married Hattie Abbott who was a student at Wellesley College.

James Dahlman's father, Charles Abbott, was a doctor in Maine and Hattie met Dahlman at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where he was working at the time.

Later James Dahlman became a brand inspector for the Wyoming Stock Association at Valentine.

James Dahlman served twice as a Nebraska delegate to the Democratic National Convention, in 1892 and 1896.

James Dahlman helped Bryan to carry Nebraska in his first run for President of the United States that year.

In 1899 James Dahlman was hired by the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha.

James Dahlman was elected in 1906 to serve as Omaha mayor, the first of three elections in a row which he won.

James Dahlman became a close ally of Tom Dennison, who reportedly supported his first campaign because Dahlman was "tolerant" of Dennison's Sporting District in downtown Omaha.

However, running on an anti-Prohibition ticket, James Dahlman quickly lost support of Bryan, who deeply supported Prohibition.

James Dahlman has been noted for his early concern for the city's citizens, particularly calling for prudence during Thanksgiving Day meals.

James Dahlman was condemned for his "loose" attitudes towards Omaha's vice elements.

James Dahlman hinted at moving the Nebraska State Capitol from Lincoln to Omaha.

Under James Dahlman, Omaha claimed its "strong city" status for the first time.

James Dahlman led the battle to gain the city's autonomy and was accused of wanting to "secede" Omaha from the state of Nebraska.

James Dahlman was lambasted for his response to the disastrous Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado of 1913, when he refused federal aid and contributions from people across the country.

James Dahlman was a member of several social and philanthropic organizations, including the Omaha Community Chest, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Omaha Library Commission, the Fraternal Aid Union, the Royal Arcanum, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Moose and the Elks.

Contemporary historians believe that Dennison, acting on behalf of James Dahlman, contributed to the poisonous atmosphere in the city, if not to the specific event.

James Dahlman hired 100 more police officers for the city, but could recover no political momentum.

James Dahlman refused to take any action with the city commission.

Jim James Dahlman makes an appearance in the historical novel Kings of Broken Things by Theodore Wheeler that is set in Omaha during the era of Tom Dennison's control.

The novel depicts the Omaha Race Riot of 1919 and an attempt to fix the municipal election of 1918 when James Dahlman lost his re-election bid.

James Dahlman was a lifelong Democrat who served in the following positions:.