Potter's Field and the Final Resting Spot of Will Brown.

Potter's Field was purchased by the City of Omaha in 1887 and it served as the final resting spot for many.  As of 1957 the city paid for burial plots in local cemeteries.  Will Brown, who was lynched in 1919 is buried here.   Over half buried here were infants with over 3000 total in the 70 years buried.

This memorial lists all those buried here.

Will Brown gravesite is to the south of the flag pole on the hlll.

The Lynching of Will Brown, 1919

 Willie Brown was murder in 1919, lynched by a mob of rioters outside the courthouse in Omaha.  He had been accused of raping a white woman, which he denied.  He never received any type of trial.  The mayor was taken and threatened with death if he did not give up Will Brown.  The court was started on fire threatening those in the courthouse.  The mayor was hung, but rescued.  Finally the mob was able to get ahold of Will Brown, and they hung him.  After he was dead the riddled his body with bullets, and then they burned his body.  No one was made to account for these deeds.  These displays are from the Great Plains Black History Museum.

death certificate

Mob Boss Tom Dennison may have been behind the riot, using newspapers to enflame hatred.  He wanted to put the mayor in a bad light.

Will Brown burned

The court house was burned