William Amos Poynter (May 29, 1848 – April 5, 1909) was a

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and the tenth Governor of Nebraska from 1899 to 1901, running under a

fusion Fusion, or synthesis, is the process of combining two or more distinct entities into a new whole. Fusion may also refer to: Science and technology Physics *Nuclear fusion, multiple atomic nuclei combining to form one or more different atomic nucl ...

ticket between the Populist Party and the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. He had previously also been elected to the former

Nebraska State House of Representatives The Nebraska House of Representatives was the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature during the days when Nebraska was a territory from 1854 to 1867 and then again when Nebraska was a state from 1867 until 1937. In 1934, Nebraska voters amended th ...

in 1885 and the

State Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

in 1891.

Early life

Born in

Eureka, Illinois Eureka is a city in Olio Township, Woodford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,295 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Woodford County. Eureka is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. Eureka is ...

, Poynter completed his college studies at

Eureka College Eureka College is a private liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois, that is related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Enrollment in 2018 was approximately 567 students. Eureka College was the third college in the Unite ...

, graduating in 1867. He married Maria Josephine McCorkle in 1869, and the couple had two children: Josephine and Charles. Poynter worked as a merchant in Eureka, Illinois, for several years until relocating his family to

Albion, Nebraska Albion is a city in and the county seat of Boone County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2010 census. Geography Albion is located at (41.689342, -98.003128). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a ...

in 1879.

Career

Poynter worked as a rancher and a farmer in Boone County, Nebraska, and became active in politics. He helped organize the

Farmers' Alliance The Farmers' Alliance was an organized agrarian economic movement among American farmers that developed and flourished ca. 1875. The movement included several parallel but independent political organizations — the National Farmers' Alliance and ...

and was elected to the

Nebraska House of Representatives The Nebraska House of Representatives was the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature during the days when Nebraska Territory, Nebraska was a territory from 1854 to 1867 and then again when Nebraska was a state from 1867 until 1937. In 1934, Nebras ...

in 1884. He was elected to the Nebraska State Senate in 1890 and named President Pro Tempore of that body. Poynter was nominated again for President pro tempore of the Nebraska Senate in 1892, but he was defeated by Republican George D. Meiklejohn. He served as a member of the

Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the legislature of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. With 49 members, known as "senators", the Nebraska Legislature is the small ...

for nearly two decades before being elected governor in 1898. During his tenure as governor, railroad regulations were promoted, and legislation was sanctioned that established

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

, as the site for the state fair. Poynter served only one term as governor, being narrowly defeated in 1900 by

Charles H. Dietrich Charles Henry Dietrich (November 26, 1853April 10, 1924) was the 11th Governor of Nebraska. Dietrich in mercantile pursuits and in banking. After serving as governor, he was elected U.S. Senator from May 1, 1901 to March 3, 1905. Personal life ...

. When he retired from public life, he remained active in his own business affairs and was also president of the Security Savings and Loan Association.

Death

Poynter died suddenly while visiting then Governor Ashton C. Shallenberger. He is interred at

Wyuka Cemetery Wyuka Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1890, Lincoln's Bnai Jeshurun Congregation, a Reform congregation, began using a section of Wyuka. History Wyuka Cemetery was established in Lincoln, Nebraska, by an act of the ...

, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.

References

External links

*
The Encyclopedia of Nebraska

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poynter, William Amos 1848 births 1909 deaths Eureka College alumni Democratic Party governors of Nebraska Democratic Party members of the Nebraska House of Representatives Democratic Party Nebraska state senators People from Eureka, Illinois People from Albion, Nebraska People's Party state governors of the United States Nebraska Populists 19th-century American politicians