Tecumseh is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,677 at the 2010 census. Tecumseh was originally called Frances, and under the latter name was established in 1856. The label of Frances has long been falsely attributed as the name of the wife of Col. Richard M Johnson, the namesake of Johnson County. Johnson's only marriage was to Julia Chinn, a common-law spouse. Julia Chinn, was an octoroon slave, born into slavery around 1790. Some historians have accepted the possibility that the legislature intended to name the county seat after Francis Burt, the first Governor of the Nebraska Territory. Shortly after being founded, the name was changed to Tecumseh after the Native American Chief said to have been killed by Johnson during the Battle of the Thames. The Nebraska Territorial Legislature established Tecumseh as the county seat in February 1857.
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