Matthew Ricketts

Matthew Oliver Ricketts (April 3, 1858 - 1917) was the first African American state senator in the Nebraska Legislature, and to graduate from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.

Biography
Ricketts was born to enslaved parents in Henry County, Kentucky in 1858. His parents moved to Booneville, Missouri when he was a child, and he completed school there. In 1876 he received a degree from the Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Missouri, and moved to Omaha in 1880. Ricketts was admitted to the Omaha Medical College and worked as a janitor to pay his tuition. In March 1884 he graduated with honors, and soon after opened an office in Omaha.

Ricketts quickly earned a reputation for "being a very careful physician, as well as an exceedingly likable young man." A charismatic and controversial speaker, Ricketts quickly became the acknowledged leader of Omaha's African American community.

After being elected in 1892, Rickets served the Nebraska Legislature twice as a Republican in whole-county elections, from 1893 to 1897. He was the first African American to serve in the Nebraska Legislature. Dr. Ricketts was regarded as one of the best orators there, and was frequently called upon for his opinions. He is credited for creating Omaha's Negro Fire Department Company, and for securing appointments for blacks in city and state government positions. Ricketts was elected Worshipful Master of Omaha Excelsior Lodge No. 110 of the Prince Hall Masons. Ricketts addressed the 1906 Grand Convocation of the Freemasons in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ricketts was married to Alice Nelson in 1884, and had three children.

After leaving the Legislature Ricketts was an unsuccessful candidate for a federal position, largely because his appointment was opposed by a Nebraska congressman. Ricketts subsequently moved to St. Joseph, Missouri to continue his medical career in 1903. He died in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1917, at the age of 64.

Legislative career
Ricketts was particularly active in the Nebraska Legislature, chairing several committees and temporarily chairing the body. He introduced laws to legalize interracial marriages, which passed the Legislature only to be vetoed by Governor Silas A. Holcomb, and to prohibit the denial of public services to African Americans. In 1893 Nebraska lawmakers passed a measure prohibiting race-based denial of services. This strengthening of the state’s 1885 civil rights law was led by Ricketts. He was also instrumental in the enactment of a bill that set an age of consent in Nebraska, relying on a petition of 500 African American women in Omaha to carry it forward.