Edward Creighton

Edward A. Creighton (* August 31, 1820, † November 5, 1874 ) was an American businessman in Omaha, Nebraska, who was involved in the development of the telegraph and railway network. According to him, the Creighton University was ( founded in 1878, initially Creighton College) named in Omaha. He was in 1862 the richest citizens of Nebraska, at his death he had 1,157,193.05 U.S. dollars, equivalent to about $ 20 million today.

Beginnings and family

Creighton came from Ohio. He was born as the fifth child of James Creighton. Before he came to Omaha in 1857, he had worked as a farmer and had to deal with cargo handling and construction of telegraph lines.

In Omaha its activities began with the importation of wood from Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. In 1858, he supported the construction of a telegraph line from Saint Joseph (Missouri ) to Omaha, which now had a telegraph line to the east coast of the USA.

Creighton's grandmother Bridget Creighton was in 1805 immigrated to the United States because it was driven out of their County Monaghan in Ireland by the landowner. He married Mary Lucretia Creighton, whom he married on October 7, 1856. His son, Charles David was born in 1859 but died at age five.

Telegraph

1860 to 1861 he headed the telegraph to the closure of the first transcontinental telegraph line that went west. The expansion of the west coast to the east led James Gamble as head of the newly formed Pacific Telegraph Company. Both fought some kind of contest, who would be the first to reach the connection point of both lines Salt Lake City. In October 1861, both lines met there. Creighton was, however, been one weeks faster.

After 1867 he also built another telegraph line from Salt Lake City to Montana, other lines and for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Other activities

L864 he raised livestock in Laramie (Wyoming) and sold the beef to the employees of the Union Pacific Railroad, which enlarged their power on.

In addition, he was president of the First National Bank of Omaha since its inception in l863 until his death.

After his death

He was buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Omaha. He wanted to build an educational institution in Omaha, after his death his widow promoted the founding of Creighton University.

In 1958 he was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, l983 in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Trivia

• The contest between Creighton and Gamble, first to reach Salt Lake City by telegraph line is described The Singing Wire Lucky - Luke - band in which other historical figures are mentioned. Here, however, Gamble wins the race.

• In the movie attack of the Ogalalla Creighton telegraph is discussed.

• NET (Nebraska Educational Telecommunications) Television filmed the family history under the title The Creighton: Building The Dream.

Swell

• Biography (English)