1881 - 1888 1891 - 1911 1912 - 1941 1942 - 1973 Year John Neihardt - Epic Poet of The American West 1881 - 1973 Photos 1881 John Gneisenau Neihardt, man of poetry, philosophy, and celebrator of the old west with all its hopes, dreams and despair. Born near Sharpsburg, Illinois, on January 8th 1881, when the vast frontier still had the lure of discovery and adventure. Neihardt would experience ...

John Gneisenau Neihardt (1881-1973) Category: Author Death date: November 3, 1973 Years in state: 1891-1920 State contribution: Teacher, Nebraska Poet Laureate, writer National contribution: Poet, educator, philosopher John Gneisenau Neihardt was Nebraska's Poet Laureate for fifty-two years. Neihardt was born in 188l and came to Wayne, Nebraska with his parents as a ten year old boy. The ...