John A. McShane

Summary

John Albert McShane (August 25, 1850 – November 10, 1923) was an American Democratic Party politician. He was the first Democrat to be elected to the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska, serving one term from 1887 to 1889.

John A. McShane
From 1888's Omaha Illustrated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889
Preceded byArchibald J. Weaver
Succeeded byWilliam James Connell
Personal details
Born
John Albert McShane

(1850-08-25)August 25, 1850
New Lexington, Ohio
DiedNovember 10, 1923(1923-11-10) (aged 73)
Omaha, Nebraska
Resting placeHoly Sepulchre Cemetery in Omaha
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education edit

McShane was born in New Lexington, Ohio, on August 25, 1850. In 1871, he moved to the Wyoming Territory, and in 1874 he moved to Omaha, Nebraska.

Career edit

He started out in the livestock business but eventually became a director of the First National Bank of Omaha.

Politics edit

McShane was elected to the Nebraska state house of representatives in 1880 and to the state senate in 1882, serving there until 1886, when he ran for a seat in Congress

Congress edit

He won the seat in Nebraska's 1st congressional district, serving in the Fiftieth United States Congress from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1889.

In 1888, he ran for Governor of Nebraska but lost the election to John Milton Thayer.[1]

Later career edit

After retirement McShane worked against the right of women to vote. He was a member of the Nebraska Men's Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage,[2] which desired to restrict voting to white men of high social class.[3]

Death and burial edit

McShane died in Omaha on November 10, 1923; he was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Omaha.

References edit

  1. ^ "The Official Count". The Western Wave. November 29, 1888. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Harper, Ida Husted (1922). The History of Woman Suffrage. Vol. 6. New York: J. J. Little & Ives. p. 875.
  3. ^ Bristow, David L. "No Votes for Women—Nebraska Anti-Suffrage Propaganda". History Nebraska. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by
James E. North
Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska
1888
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st congressional district

March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889
Succeeded by