Daniel Gantt (1814 - 1878)

Born 28 Jun 1814 in Perry, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Harriet (Cooper) Gantt — married after Oct 1857 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

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Biography

Daniel Gantt was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, on June 29, 1814, the son of Joseph and Mary Lobaugh Gantt. He received his early education in the public schools of Perry County, and later taught school in several nearby communities. Gantt was involved in various other occupations, including some surveying work, until he was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1843. In 1842 Gantt married Miss Agnes Fulton of Perry County, and the couple remained in Pennsylvania until 1857. In May of that year they arrived in Nebraska Territory where they settled at Saratoga, Douglas County. On October 15, 1857, Agnes Gantt died of lung-fever and Daniel returned to Pennsylvania for the winter. The following spring he returned to Nebraska with his second wife, Harriet Cooper Gantt whom he had married in Pittsburgh.

After returning to Nebraska, Gantt became active in the political affairs of the Territory. Although unsuccessful in his initial campaign for the legislature, he was elected City Treasurer of Omaha in 1861. In the election of 1863, Gantt won a seat in the Territorial House of Representatives, where he served until the conclusion of the Legislative session. On May 10, 1864, President Lincoln appointed Gantt U.S. District Attorney for Nebraska Territory, a post he held for three years. In 1868 he moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where he re-established his private legal practice and in the summer of 1872, he was elected an Associate Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. This position also included the duties of District Judge for the 1st Judicial District when the Supreme Court was not in session. In 1875 a new state Constitution relieved Supreme Court Judges of this latter duty, and Gantt remained on the bench of Nebraska's high court. At the beginning of the January term of 1878, Gantt became Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, holding this position for five months until his death on May 28, 1878, at the age of 64.

Gantt was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Nebraska City and was active in the State organizations. He was survived by his wife, Harriet, and four children: Amos, T. Fulton, Mrs. Lena Chalfant, and Mrs. Mary Rorebeck. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/daniel-gantt-1814-1878-rg3267am

• “Daniel Gantt, 1814-1878.” History Nebraska. Nebraska Historical Society. Accessed January 12, 2021. https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/daniel-gantt-1814-1878-rg3267am.