Phineas Hitchcock (November 30, 1831 - July 10, 1881) was a Delegate and a Senator from Nebraska. Hitchcock was born in New Lebanon, New York. He graduated from Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1855, where he studied law; moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1857. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice. Hitchcock was appointed a United States Marshal from 1861-1864; a Republican, elected as the Nebraska Territory Delegate to the Thirty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1865 to March 1, 1867, when the Territory was admitted as a State into the Union. He was appointed surveyor general of Nebraska and Iowa from 1867-1869. In 1870, Hitchcock was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection.
Hitchcock served as the chairman of the Committee on Territories in the Forty-fourth Congress. He was involved in newspaper publishing and various businesses. He died in Omaha on July 10, 1881, and he was interred at Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Phineas was the father of Gilbert M. Hitchcock, founder of the Omaha World-Herald and a U.S. Representative and Senator.
Hitchcock County, Nebraska, is named after him.
Preceded by: Samuel Gordon Daily Nebraska Territory Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives 1865-1867 Succeeded by: none Preceded by: John M. Thayer United States Senator from Nebraska (Class 2) 1871-1877 Succeeded by: Alvin Saunders This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
