ROBERT W. FURNAS, 1824-1905

Furnas had a varied career as a newspaperman, soldier, Indian agent, historian, agriculturist, and Nebraska governor from 1873 to 1875. He was one of early Nebraska's strongest promoters and founded the newspaper the Nebraska Advertiser in Brownville in 1856. In 1868 he founded the Nebraska Farmer, the first agricultural newspaper in the state. Furnas formed and commanded three Indian regiments during the Civil War, recruited and led the Second Nebraska Cavalry, and later served as an Indian agent. He helped create Arbor Day while governor, and served as the first president of the Nebraska State Historical Society.