John Claus Hubbard

John Claus Hubbard (November 4, 1852 – November 4, 1907) was a prominent African-American political figure in Omaha, Nebraska's history. In 1886, he founded the first Black newspaper in Omaha and was the first recorded Black candidate to run for office in Nebraska. As an attorney, he defended many people of color in vagrancy cases. He was arrested for vagrancy himself and filed for a writ of habeas corpus in 1898.

Life Hubbard was born on November 4, 1852. No known historical records indicate the location of his birth or the names of his family members. He moved to Omaha in 1882 and made several community impacts throughout his career. During his residency in the city, Omaha faced racial tensions with its growing population. From 1880 to 1890, the city's Black population grew from 811 to 4,658. Laws were proposed, and some approved, restricting Black residents' right to vote, receive an education, and marry interracially. 1889 marked Omaha's first trial involving police brutality.

In 1898, he experienced health issues and was later committed to the Nebraska Insane Hospital in 1906. At this time, the hospital held an institutional belief that mental illness was incurable. He died on November 4, 1907. His final resting place is located in Wyuka Cemetery; however, his grave remains unmarked.

Career Hubbard graduated from Oberlin College, one of the first universities to admit Black students. He continued his career by teaching school in St. Louis and other parts of the United States before moving to Omaha.

Hubbard started The Colored Advocate, Omaha's first Black newspaper, in 1886. With the paper's founding, Hubbard intended it to "represent the colored people of Omaha" while giving "some sound and manly political advice to its patrons." Hubbard's The Colored Advocate paved the way for other Black newspapers to prosper: The Progress (1889–1906), The Afro-American Sentinel (1892–1925), and The Enterprise (1893–1920).

In the Third Ward of Omaha, he was often considered a key figure of political influence. The Omaha Daily Bee reported that Hubbard was the President of the Third Ward Colored Republican Club. Additionally, Omaha Daily Bee quoted Hubbard as stating, "[I have] made more out of politics in some months than some people have in years."

Hubbard was a practicing attorney who primarily worked with cases involving persons of color under arrest. Hubbard believed the arrest retaliation was against his actions as a political figure and attorney. He filed for a writ of habeas corpus on the grounds that he was wrongfully imprisoned. The 1881 Nebraska § 787, Section 52 titled "Punishment of Disorderly Persons" stated: "To provide for the punishment of vagrants, tramps, common street beggars, common prostitutes, habitual disturbers of the peace, pick-pockets, gamblers..." One of the arguments during Hubbard's trial alleged that he fell under the "gambling" categorization. Hubbard's attorney, Elmer E. Thomas, argued that Hubbard had been imprisoned without a warning or cause. Hubbard denied any involvement with gambling and explained his belief that the arrest was retaliatory. The final ruling called for Hubbard's release, and the Court ordered: "inform the police officers present...that any policeman attempting the arrest of any citizen without due process of law virtually risks his life in his own hands."