In 1854, Stephen F. Nuckolls settled in Nebraska Territory with his wife, Lucinda, and family from Atchison County, Missouri, and built the first brick house in Nebraska City at this corner of 5th and Main (Central Avenue). A prominent businessman and community leader, he is credited as founder of the town because he drove in the first stake laying out the community on July 10, 1854. Originally from Grayson County, Virginia, Nuckolls was listed with five slaves in the 1855 Nebraska territorial census. On November 26, 1858, after some encouragement, two of the slaves, Eliza Grayson and Celia, escaped across the Missouri River to the abolitionist settlement of Civil Bend, Iowa, aided by John Williamson, a free black. Despite a $200 reward and Nuckolls' relentless pursuit, the two young women made it safely to Chicago. Eliza's newfound freedom was threatened when Nuckolls happened to spot her, but his efforts to recapture her failed when an angry mob of black and white citizens came to her rescue. In the aftermath, several of those who had prevented Eliza's recapture were indicted under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, and Nuckolls became embroiled in his own court battle stemming from injuries and property loss sustained by Civil Bend residents during his violent and destructive search. By 1860, all of those enslaved by Nuckolls had escaped, and he moved west to Colorado Territory. Eventually, his old residence burned down and the site became the town's U.S. Post Office.