o > * ^^' ■^.^ * o » o ^ O, ^^ c'^ *f .3- * ^r >P'^4^. ^ '?^ -^'^ ^:/''^ rf. '0/ Z^^-- '^■^^0* :^ 'i' V.^" .-MC^:- -^^ ,^- ^:/^v ^ -^^0^ ! .HO, * ^^' ED. F. MORE ARTY OMAHA MEMORIES Recollections of Events, Men and Affairs in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1879 to 1917 BY ED. F. MOREARTY Attorney-at- Law OMAHA SWARTZ PRINTING CO. 1917 * COPYRIGHTED 1917 by ED. F. MOREARTY / V/0 I r il OMAHA MEMORIES PREFACE In writing these Recollections of Omaha, it was not my intention to snbmit a history of Omaha, nor an Autobiography; nor is this work intended as such. It is just what the title claims to be: 'Omaha Memories — Recollections of Omaha from 1879 to 1917. of Events, Men and Affairs," with comments. In it I have not sought to throw bouquets at some men and brick-bats at others; nor confining myself to the old settlers only, but to new ones us well. In the brief biographies here given, which were written by myself and not a line by another, I have written from my own personal knowledge of the men, aside from the information given me by them as to age and place of birth — nothing else of which have they had prior knowl- edge of or been consulted, or asked to pay for. It contains no advertisements, and but one photograph, that of my own. This book is written partly from memory and partly from a diary kept by me during the past 36 j'ears, and is not intended as a money-making scheme, for I do not expect to make one dollar from its sales. I will feel that I am amply rewarded for my two years' labor (that of 1915-16) should the present genera- tion, those living here as well as those who formerly resided here, derive some pleasure in reviewing the events of the past, and the future generation gain a knowledge of the marvelous growth of Omaha and the changes that have taken place in it from 1879 to 1917. ED. F. MOREARTY. OMAHA MEMORIES OMAHA The meaning of the word Omaha is, "Above all others— upon a stream" — an Indian word, E-roma-ha. Tradition has it that two tribes of Indians had a great many years ago met on the Missouri River, and engaged in a hostile encounter, in which all on one side were killed but one, who had been thrown into the river. Rising suddenly from what was thought to be a watery grave, he lifted his head above the surface and pro- nounced the word "Omaha" which had never been heard before. Those who heard it adopted it as the name of their tribe. How much truth there is in the story I do not know, suffice it to say that it has past as current. It is generally conceded that the first white man to locate in Omaha was in 1854. The late William P. Snowden has assured me on various occasions that he was that man, although I am not vouching for the accuracy of the statement. Be he the first, or someone else, I am exceedingly thankful to the man or men who were the original founders of this city, and for many reasons; among them might be assigned: Because I have spent nearly two-thirds of my life in it, and because it is the best city in the world in which to live and raise a family; because it is the metropolis of one of the best agricultural states in the Union, the one possessing the least illiteracy. Because it is in the geographical center of the United States, through which passes the channels of commerce from the rock- bound coast of Maine to the Golden Gate of California, and from the snow-capped mountains of Canada to the pleasant glades of Florida; because it has the most even and healthful climate of any spot in the United States s because it is the second primary live stock market of the world; because it is the fourth primary grain market of the world; because its jobbing trade in 1916 was $188,000,000; because its factory output for 1916 was $219,000,000; because it is the greatest creamery producing city in the world. Because in 1999 it will have a population of 1,000,000 people ; because it is the greatest lead ore reducing city in the world because it is the second primary corn market in the world because it is the greatest sheep feeding market in the world OMAHA MEMORIES because it has the broadest streets and best kept of any city of her size in the United States; because it has more palatial resi- •dences and the greatest number of home owners in proportion to population than any other city in the world; because it has the most extensive, best equipped, best service street car system in the world ; because it has the most schools and most efficient teachers in this nation. Because it is the best-governed city in the Union ; because it is the most lively, progressive, commercial city on the map ; because it has more churches, with more members, than any city of her size in the Avorld ; because it has the most contented homo- geneous class of people on this continent — in short, it is the birth- place of one of the best women in the world, the mother of eight of the finest children in all Oniaha's 200,000 inhabitants (all born and raised and educated in Omaha) — Mv Wife. My love for Nebraska can be no better expressed than in the following lines from Adam Breed : Nebraska land, Nebraska land, I love your waving fields; Nebraska land, Nebraska land, I love your golden yields; It matters not where I may be, What foreign fields I roam. You'll always be most dear to me. I love you 'cause you're home. u OMAHA MEMORIES CHAPTER I. 1880 On the loth day of January, 1880, I 'arrived in the City of Omaha, Nebraska, direct from my native city, Knoxville, Ten- nessee, where I was born August 11, 1860, so that on my arrival here, I had not yet attained my majority. I knew nothing of Omaha, in fact, I had scarcely heard of it except from what I had read in the Omaha Herald, copies of which Avere in the reading room of the Knoxville Public Library. I did not knoAV a living soul in Omaha the day I landed here; had but little money and finding myself a stranger in a strange land, it behooved me to look for Avork. I had no trade or profession, the last Avork that I did Avas on my father's farm on BeaA'er Creek, tAveh^e miles Avest of -KnoxA'ille, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. My earlier education I obtained in the public schools of Knox County, and later took a four-year course in the Christian Brothers' College, in a little toAvn called Dingle, in County Kerry, Ireland, from Avhich place I graduated in 1876,. Feeling that I had no pull it became necessary for me to resort to push, and to take that Avhich most readily presented itself. In my tra\'els seeking Avork, I finally came to Avhere • Duffy Brothers Avere digging out the cellar of the big brick building on the southeast corner of Thirteenth and Harney Streets, Avhich is still standing and Avhich for years Avas occupied by the AA'holesale grocery of Steel, Johnson & Co. At this place I asked for a job shoveling; upon inquiry as to Avhether or not I had a "shebble" (shoA^el) I said I had neither "shebble" nor money to buy one, so the boss found one for me and I proceeded to Avork. The job lasted for three days and I received the munificent sum of $4.50. My boarding-house and the one AA'here I had taken niA- first meal and first night's lodging Avas at 1314 LeaveuAvorth Street, a tAvo-story building, dignified AA'ith the title of ''Wallanze Hotel," OAvned by jMichael Wallanze — yet living. The summer of 1880, in Omaha, was one of the hottest and dustiest I haA'e cA^er experienced, and this city had just begun to recover from the grasshopper blight from AA'hicli the entire state had suffered for a number of years. The city Avas then claiming to have a population of 30,000 inhabitants and Avas about to attain the dignity of having a AvaterAvorks system, of Avhich I will treat later on. HoAvever, resuming my story of securing a job (not a posi- tion), after much effort I acquired one at the Omaha Nail Works, Avhich Avere located betAveen Sixteenth and Seventeenth Streets and the Union Pacific tracks. There Avere about one hundred and tAventy-five men Avorking there and nearly fifty nail ma- chines, Avith a daily capacity of tAvo hundred kegs of nails. This concern Avas established in 1879 and Avent out of business in OMAHA MEMORIES 1883; it was a stock company, the majority of stock being owned by the Creightons and McShanes. One additional stockholder, Mr. Bnrtholder, a heavy set man Avho ran a jnnk store, com- plained to me years afterwards that he lost every cent he had in the enterprise. It was while employed there that I first met John A. aird Phil Mc8hane, the latter being cashier. Martin Dineen, who afterwards became assistant chief of the Omaha fire department, was employed as a nail picker, and at the time was but a small boy. Evenings I sauntered leisurely around the city, and in so sauntering, euriousity prompted me to follow a eroM^d of men going up the steps of a two-story brick building located on the southwest corner of Twelfth and Douglas streets (this building is still standing). The crowd that was surging in there were gamblers, eager to bet on the game run by Dan Allen; Gotley Brooker was dealing the cards. Howe*^er, shortly after my arrival there I heard the report of a pistol shot. Those of us Mdio had no money up, ran out to see what happened, and upon in(|uiry found that a man had been shot one-half block north on Twelfth Street in the old St. Elmo Theatre, or varietv show, one of the toughest joints between Chicago and Leadville, and was managed by Jack and Billie Nugent ; it afterwards changed its name to the Buckingham Theatre — that owing to the fact that^ Mayor C. S. Chase had ordered the old place closed— but, as Shakespeare said, "there was nothing in a name," for the place had not changed its moral tone. Omaha being a frontier town at that time, little regard was shown for law and order, saloons were licensed after a fashion, but it made no difference to what grocery store you went you could find a keg of whiskey on tap at all times, which would be sold to the customers and cha}-ged up on their pass-books just the same as sugar or potatoes. There was no limit to the hours that saloons were to be opened or closed, in fact most of them had no key to the front door From 1880 to 1882 Ninth Street, from Jackson to Leavenworth,' was the principal retail street running north and south. On this street, just south of Jackson, was located one of the largest retail grocery stores in the city, owned by a man named St. Felix, who, in 1882, moved his stock to his new building, corner Seventeenth and Howard streets. There Avere many other small stores and any quantity of saloons in that stretch of street. The Southern Hotel, on the northeast corner of Ninth and Leavenworth Streets was at that time a fashionable hotel. ' I am now at that stage where I have another job— it is with tlie Omaha Foundry and Machine Co., Seventeenth and Union Pacific Railroad tracks, afterward known as the Paxton & Vier- ling Iron Works. This time my duties were of a two-fold nature • that ot fireman and blacksmith's helper; the engineer was Charles Siidenberg, aftemvards city boiler inspector of Omaha under Mayor Bemis. My undertaking as blacksmith's helper 'was of OMAHA MEMORIES short duration, as I knew no more of the sound language of the blacksmith's anvil than a laughing hyena knows about mathe- matics ; about the first time my services were brought into requisi- tion was when Mr. Fred Simpson, the blacksmith, called on me to hit a swedge in welding a long piece of wrought iron that was intended and which was afterwards used as a brace over the divided door of Jim Stephens' livery stable, corner Tenth and Howard streets. Simpson would sound on the anvil with his little hammer in such parlance as would indicate the rapidity and force which I was expected to use ; this being all -Greek to me and having heard some very uncomplimentary remarks about my intellect, I became frightened and hit the anvil in the center in one blow, then the point of it in the next, breaking the handle and striking Mr. Simpson on the foot with the hammer part of it. There was nothing left for me to do but run, and this I did, with Mr. Simpson after me. I was not overtaken, my pursuer having been put out of commission when I reached Seventeenth Street. But to this day Mr. Simpson and myself have been the warmest of friends, and upon various occasions of late years I have been his attorney. I remained with that company (shorn of some of my duties) until April, 1881 ; while there I formed the acquaintanceship of the owner of the concern, Captain T. W. T. Richards, one of the finest men I have ever met. He was an attorney, by profession, and lived on the corner of Eighteenth and Farnam streets, afterwards moving to California. In July of that year I moved, or rather changed my quarters and collar box, from the Wallanze Hotel to a boarding- house kept by Pat. Garvey, on the northwest corner of Thirteenth and Mason Streets. This was a commodious two-story building ; this hostage was presided over by Pat. Harvey, a haughty, quick- tempered and impulsive son of the Emerald Isle, but the manage- ment was in the hands of his wife, one of the most lovable of women ; the family consisted of three girls and two boys ; the girls were Nellie, Annie and Kate, and the boys Charles and Leo. Charles is now owner and proprietor of the Puritan Laundry, and all reside in Omaha. The cold weather of thg^ fall of 1880 came very early, the first snow and sleet arrived on the tenth day of October and while there were a few days during the balance of the year that were pleasant yet the weather up to January was extremely cold. It being my first winter in the north since I left sunny Tennessee I was much discouraged, but have wit- nessed thirty-six more Nebraska winters since then. (Since writing the above, Patrick Garvey died October 30, 1915.) CHAPTER II. 1881 The year 1881 having been ushered in, the early part of it found me with a new job; this time it was with John A. Wake- 10 OMAHAMEMORIES field, who ran a big lumber yard Avhere now stands the Union Pacific local freight house, Ninth and Jackson Streets. My employment there was but of short duration, but of pleasant memory, as there I formed a friendship with Mr. Wakefield that will last so long as we both shall live. On May 9th, 3881, I left the employ of Mr. Wakefield to accept a job with the Union Pacific Railroad at its local freight depot, where now stands the Union Depot. My first introduc- tion to what was then called a "Green Line Truck," took place on the tenth day of May; my duties and responsibilities were very light, but not so with my burdens as a trucker of freight ; one seldom knew what the heaft of his next load was going to be, and being the youngest man up to that time Avho had ever worked at that place at that kind of labor, I was continuously being "bawled out" by the old "terriers" that had been there since Heck was a pup. I was told to go back to the high school and many other expressions, all of which only served to nerve me up. On May 21st there was no freight ^o handle because of the high water on the east side of the Missouri River. On that morning three others and myself, accompanied by J. T. Clark, general superintendent of the road, went to Council Bluffs to help build a pontoon bridge from the east end of the Union Pacific bridge to the Union Station in Council Blutfs. The water was fast rising, and by the time the pontoon bridge was built the water all along the bottoms, from the east end of the Union Pacific bridge to the Union Depot in Council Bluffs, was from twelve to fifteen feet deep. The bridge was about fifteen feet wide, with a space for passengers on both sides, leaving room for a baggage truck in the center. At the noon hour next day one of the men, William McDevitt, J. T. Clarke and myself, rode in a boat from the Union Station in Council Bluffs, up to the Ogden House in that city. This system of transferring passengers and baggage, including express matter, continued until the flood had subsided and the trains began their usual schedule, which was about June 1st. The Missouri River at that time had raised so high that the smelting works Avere forced to close down, and the water was three feet deep in the Union Pacific shops. How- ever, "it's an ill wind that blows no good," for this flood forever settled the rivalry between Omaha and Council Bluffs as to which would be the most suitable place in which to live, and to do business in. Pictures of the two cities were taken at that time and placed in the windows of the business houses and hotels of Omaha; the pictures showed Council Bluffs with houses and barns floating down the river, and others with but the chimney tops above water, while Omaha was pictured on a high hill over- looking the river and having the appearance of the mart of com- merce. This was the commencement of a real estate boom for OMAHAMBMORIES 11 Omaha, which before it ended in 1887, had few equals in Ameri- can history, but, like the average boom, it was much inflated and caused a set-back to the city's progress, which injury terminated only when the Trans-Mississippi Exposition was held here in 1898. To resume the story of my experience during the balance of the year with the Union Pacific road at its local freight department, will state that I neither paid any attention to nor cared for the jeers of the older men in the department, and soon became their fast friend. Whether by accident or good luck I am unable to say, I was soon relieved from physical exertion and given an opportunity to test if I possessed any mental acumen. It happened this way: A box-car loaded with furniture, and consigned to Dewey & Stone of Omaha had been damaged while in transit, and Mr. Black, the foreman of the department, was requested by C. B. Havens, the local agent, to send someone to get a report on it, and I was chosen. I made the report and placed it on the agent's desk; was soon asked by Mr. Black to report to Mr. Havens' office. On my way there I felt that I was to get my time, and where would I get another job? I had never met Mr. Havens, and kncAv him only in my many efforts to avoid running over him on the platform with my truck-load of freight. I was, however, agreeably surprised when he began making inquiries of me as to the extent of my schooling and who I was. After I had informed him he was curious to learn why I was engaged in an occupation that required no powers of mind beyond animal instinct. I informed him that I had no influence or friends to advance me, and had a mother, sister and brother who were depending upon me for support, so took what I could get. Struck by my candid statements he informed me that I was too valuable a young man to the company to be running a truck, and immediately gave me the position of receiv- ing clerk, and an increase of $20 per month over what I was getting. This position I held during the year 1881, and was promoted each year, as will appear from time to time in these recollections. On the Fourth of July of that year there was a ball given in the old Kuony Hall, southeast corner of Fourteenth and Dodge Streets ; it was given under the auspices of the Emmet Monu- ment Association ; I purchased a ticket from P. C. Heafey, who at this writing is known, honored and respected as "Colonel" Heafey. There I met, for the first time, the one whom I won and wed. A few weeks thereafter Sells Brothers' circus came to town, and I took it in. The circus grounds were located on the then outskirts of the city, and much indignation was manifested because it was held on the southwest corner of Twenty-fourth and Farnam streets, the lot on which Joseph Millard afterAvard lived. This lot was afterward bought by Phelan & Sherley, and .12 OMAHA MEMORIES at this writing thei'e is erected upon it a splendid tAvo-story brick building with stores both on Twenty-fourth and on Far- nani Streets. Such is the flight of time, and changed conditions which have taken place in the upbuilding and progress of the Cit}^ of Omaha within a generation. Where at this writing stands the Nebraska Clothing Store on Fifteenth and Farnam Streets, there stood in the fall of 1880 a livery stable oAvned and run by Matt Wilbert. About that time the property Avas pur- chased by James E. Boyd, Avho in 1881 erected on the lot an opera house, Avhich Avas considered one of the finest in the West. On September 19th of this year President Garfield, Avho on July 3rd Avas shot by Giteau, died, and on that day, on the afternoon of his obsequies Avas declared a holiday. All Avorks and business houses Avere closed for the day, and exercises Avere held on the High School grounds, at Avhich John M. Thurston, John L. Webster, John C. CoAvin, EdAvard RoscAvater and W. J. Connell delivered fitting eulogies on the death of the President, followed by the adoption of suitable resolutions befitting the solemn occasion. That day proved to be one of the hottest of the Avhole year, and a number of this large croAvd, so densely' packed, Avere overcome by the heat. » During the month of October there Avas an unusual amount of rain ; there being no paved streets and but feAv permanent sideAvalks, traA^el on foot and by vehicle Avas very difficult. It was no unusual thing to see Avagons stuck in the mud anywhere from Ninth to Fifteenth and Farnam Streets and as I recall it, the first permanent sidcAvalk ever laid in Omaha was on Eleventh and Farnam Streets around the building then OAvned and occu- plied by Max Mej'er as a wholesale and retail jcAvelry store. The building is there yet. So durable Avas the material in this Avalk that it Avas never repaired until 1910. Tenth Street in the latter part of that year Avas fast becom- ing the leading retail street north and south. This, hoAvever, Avas of but short duration. The latter part of that year ( I think it was Christmas night) I Avas Avalking south on Fourteenth Street in company Avith a man named James Tracy, Avhen our attention Avas attracted by a number of men moving rapidly toAvard Fifteenth and Farnam Streets. We folloAved the crowd Avhich led to the Avholesale and retail liquor house of Julius Treitschke, Avhich was located on the corner of the alley in an old frame building which Avas afterAvards replaced by the build- ing noAv knoAvn as the Barker Block,. To our surprise Ave found Charles Kosters in charge of Dan Angel, then city marshal. In the heat of passion Kosters had killed a man named Hammer. This was about 11 :30 at night, and the place was ordered closed. Kosters had a number of trials in this prosecution and Avas finally acquitted. General John C. CoAvin Avas his attorney. OMAHAMEMORIES 13 CHAPTER III. 1882 The year 1882 presented itself and it brought with it amongst other things a promotion for me in the freight depart- ment, in the form of my appointment as check clerk, which position I held during the entire year, so that I was fast getting beyond what might be classed as holding a "job," and was now holding a position. I had as my freight caller a short stubby Irishman by the name of Tommy Ryan; he was an old soldier and very irritable, so much so that he was seldom if ever at peace with himself or the balance of mankind. However, by having to do his work as well as my own I managed to get along with him for a year. It was different, however, with my steve- dore ; he was an easy-going affable man whom everybody liked, and he in turn liked everybody. This proved a memorable year for Omaha; in fact, it was in this year that the city began to get out of its "swaddling clothes." Old landmarks disappeared rapidly; heavy invest- ments were made; large wholesale and retail houses were being established; and the city started its first public improvements, such as grading, sewering and paving. This was the second year of James E. Boyd's administration as mayor, and to him more than to any other agency can be attributed the spirit which aroused the people of Omaha to a realization of the need of public improvements, which began under his first administra- tion and has since continued. The Millard and Paxton Hotels were each built in this year, as was also the Nebraska National Bank. It was during this year that the celebrated dump strike took place. This strike grew out of the awarding of the con- tract for the grading of the B. & M. grounds on Sixth Street and B. & M. tracks; the Burlington road had purchased a tract of land at that place formerly known as the old Herman Kountze residence ; the company bought it for the purpose for which it is now used — as a freight depot. The contract for grading and filling was aAvarded to Jim Stephenson at such a ridiculously low price that he could pay his men not more than $1.00 or $1.35 per day. As a result the men struck for higher wages, and refused to let other men work in their places; this Stephenson resented and called for police protection, which proved inade- quate, and sentiment began to run dangerously high, when on the tenth day of March, on Fourteenth Street near the Paxton Hotel, Mayor Boj^d mounted a chair and read the "Riot Act" to the multitude who had assembled, and calling upon them to maintain order. This official act of his failing of its purpose, he asked the sheriff for assistance. The sheriff, David N. Millar, finding himself unable to quell the disturbance, immediately called upon the Governor (Albinus Nance) for aid from the state militia, which on March 12tli, in four coaches, landed at 14 OMAHAMEMORIES the Union Depot and marched in i)latoons up Tenth Street, thence east on Jackson where they established their quarters called the "White Village." On March 16th an honest and unoffensive old man named George Armstrong was passing the grounds about dusk, when he was killed by one of the guards on duty, having been pierced wuth a bayonet. This aroused great indig- nation and caused 5,000 laboring men to parade the streets, headed by a band, denouncing the mayor, the sheriff and the governor. The governor forthwith placed the city under martial law, ordering the closing of all saloons, and permitting no one on the streets, without cause, after eight o'clock. In the mean- time, men had been placed to work and the grading was com- pleted through the protection of the militia, after which they were recalled by the governor. The feeling against Mayor Boyd lasted for years afterward, and much political capital was made from it; the election for ward councilmen being held in April of the same year, resulting in the election of the Labor Ticket, of C. C. Thrane, a shoemaker, from the First Ward ; John F. Behm, house-mover, from the Second Ward ; D. L. McGuckin, saloonkeeper, from the Third Ward, and Ed. Luder, grocer, from the Fifth Ward. The legislative session of 1881 passed the Slocumb lifjuor law, and it being such a surprise to the liquor element they sought at first to ignore it and continue in the old rut. So determined were they in their effort to overlook its provisions and its enforcement that at the following fall election, a com- plete Democratic county ticket was nominated on a platform which pledged the nominees, in the event of their election, to refuse to enforce that law. However, a few da^-s prior to the election, Watson B,. Smith, clerk of the United States Circuit Court, was shot in his office in the old Postoffice Building. As he had been a persistent fighter in the enforcement of that law, and it having been reported that he had received threatening letters warning him to let up on his fight or take the conse- quences, public opinion at once centered on the li(|uor element as the ones responsible for this murder ; whether they were or were not, to this day it is not known. To vindicate themselves, every li(|uor man and his friends were out on the morning of the election supporting the Republican ticket, which M^as over- whelmingly elected. From that day to the present writing, no effort has been made by anyone to ignore the law or ask for its repeal, and in my judgment it was this law and its wise regula- tions of the liquor traffic that has kept the state of Nebraska out of the prohibition column of dry states. At the fall election of that year the people were called upon to vote on the constitutional amendment submitted by the Legis- lature of 1881, which contemplated the giving and granting to women the right to vote. This amendment was bitterly fought, OMAHAMEMORIES 15 more especially so by the foreign element, and the prominent daily papers, including the Omaha Bee and Omaha Herald. Those backing and advocating the measure were Susan B. Anthony, Belvill Lockwood, and Phoebe Cousins ; those Avomen were able champions of their cause ^ and challenged their oppo- nents to joint debate. In this they were accommodated, as Ed- ward Rosewater accepted the challenge of Susan B. Anthony, the joint debate taking place in Boyd's Opera House in Sep- tember of that year, and was enjoyed by the crowded house that attended, each side being applauded as their respective clinch- ing arguments were made. Mr. Rosewater, however, judging from the applause, merited the decision. At that time, in my estimation, he was at the height of his physical and intellectual powers. A few days thereafter, Gilbert M. Hitchcock, now editor of the World-Herald and United States senator from this state, accepted the challenge of Phoebe Cousins, the debate taking place in the same opera house as that of the Rosewater- Anthony debate. Mr. Hitchcock was at the time a beardless youth, a recent graduate from a college at Heidelberg, Germany, though a native son of Omaha. This debate drew as large a house as that of the Rosewater-Anthony debate. Mr. Hitchcock at first labored under somewhat of a disadvantage, not having been as well known to the audience as was Mr. Rosewater. I will confess it was the first time I had ever seen or heard of him ; yet I am free to say that as the debate progressed he proved to be an agreeable surprise to the audience and to me. During the debate he became so enthused in his subject that he invoked the wrath of his opponent to such an extent that she arose from her seat to attract his attention, and pointing her long bony forefinger at him menacingly, exclaimed: "Mr. Hitchcock, you are a disgrace to the mother who bore you." He was kpplauded to the echo and won the debate on its merits. CHAPTER IV. 1883 The opening and closing of this year found me still with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, but with it also came another promotion, that of classification clerk, coupled with the duties of check clerk. In April of that year the term of James E. Boyd, as mayor of Omaha, terminated, and the two old political parties held their respective conventions. This was the occasion of my first introduction into the political arena; I was a delegate from the Second Ward to the City Democratic Convention, through the grace of John Mahoney, P. W. Lynch and Tom Fitzmorris. Mayor Boyd, fearing the wrath of the dump strikers, refused to again be a candidate, and the conven- tion was at a loss to find a strong candidate. I suggested Judge James W. Savage, who was nominated by acclamation ; he made 16 OMAHAMEMORIES the race and was defeated by less than 100 votes. Champion S. Chase, the Repnhlican nominee, was elected. Mayor Chase was a genial, whole-sonled man, but very pompous and determined in having his own way, and was very unfortunate in some of his appointments, notably that of city marshal. To this position he appointed a man named Guthrie, a machinist in the Union Pacific shops ; this appointment proved very disastrous to Mayor Chase, as will api)ear later on in my Recollections. As previously stated, the city began to grow and spread, and its commercial importance to assume a proportion that chal- lenged attention, and many new wholesale and retail houses were established. It Avas that year that Paxton & Gallagher purchased the lot and built their present wholesale house ; this lot was the one on which stood the old Slaven House. This firm prior to its present location was in a two-story brick building where now stands the Ware Block on the southeast corner of Fifteenth and Farnam Streets, built and owned by W. A. Paxton, and named after his wife, whose maiden name was Ware. It was that year also that McCord, Brady & Co. built their present wholesale house on the corner of Thirteenth and Leavenworth Streets. Their former house was located on Tenth and Farnam streets, now the Burlington headquarters. That year also saw the erection of the Parlin-Orendorf implement house ; they were a new firm who located here that year, and as I am informed at this writing, they have never regretted coming here. The Barker Hotel on the northeast corner of Thirteenth and Jones Streets was constructed that year, and was for a number of years one of the leading hotels. On the northwest corner of Eleventh and l^ouglas streets there stands a large five-story brick building built that year by "Fatty Glynn," a man who weighed some 425 pounds and was formerly a circus clown. The rear of this building was occupied by a saloon, run by Mr. Glynn ; it proved a rendezvous for visiting sports from all over the country. This building was for years afterwards occupied by Stubendorff & Nestor as a wholesale liquor house. On the southwest corner of the same street there was built and is stiir standing a large four-story brick building, built by United States Senator Paddock, after his first term as a senator from Nebraska. This building was for a number of years used by M. E. Smith and S. Katz & Co. as an overall factory,. In the summer of this year Tenth Street was paved and business was directed that way, and between Jackson and Jones on the Avest side of it one of the then largest retail dry goods stores Avas located and was conducted by Pete Wigg and John N, AVestburg, and known as the Wigg & Westburg stores. The construction of the Tenth Street viaduct soon depreciated the street and business was driven further Avest to Thirteenth Street. In the early part of that year a syndicate composed of Paxton, OMAHA MEMORIES 17 McShane, Boser and Woolwortli, purchased a large tract of land south of the city and what is now known as South Omaha. This land w^as purchased from George Homes, Fred Drexel, Pat Hoctor and John Kinnelly, all of which lands were by them home- steaded. The original intent of the purchasers was to name the town Glasgow, and no doubt would have been done had it not been for Ed Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee, and Dr. George L. Miller, editor of the Omaha Herald. About the middle of this year Sixteenth Street was graded from Leavenworth to Izard Street. To one who had not seen this street before it was graded and now it would appear incred- ible to be told of the changed conditions which will be noted later on. The State Fair was held in Omaha that year, and was located in the north part of -the city, now Kountze Park; the weather was very unpleasant, being cold and chilly rains. That year my mother, sister and brother joined me, having come from our old home in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I rented a house where now stands the Creighton Medical Institute, where for the first and only time in my life I lived in the Third Ward. However, it was but for a short time. I shortly moved to 1314 Jackson Street, then a fashionable residence part of Omaha. CHAPTER V. 1884 The year 1884 came with its many pleasant recollections. Business began to assume a lively attitude, the railroads were placing on extra freight trains, and so heavy became the Mormon immigration to Utah that trains were run in sections. This, coupled with an unusual number of land seekers, made passenger travel reach the point of congestion with the Union Pacific Rail- road. Especially freight was piled mountain-high at the Union Pacific freight depot; men were forced to work day and night to load and unload it, while express companies had to do like- wise. On the first day of May of that year the Union Pacific Railroad issued an order reducing the wages of its employees ten per cent. This action was met by a refusal on the part of the men, they refusing to accept the reduction, and on the second day of May not a wheel was turned on either the Union Pacific or Kansas Pacific roads. On the evening of May 3rd a monster meeting of the employees was held at the old Academ}^ of Music, 1311 Douglas Street, where Joseph Standeven of the Union Pacific shops was selected as chairman and myself as secretary. Committees were appointed for various purposes ; I was placed on two of them : That of notifying all divisions of the road as to the action taken at Omaha, and that of waiting on General Manager S. H. H. Clark of the Union Pacific road to notify him of the stand taken by the employees. We met Mr. Clark, and a 18 OMAHA MEMORIES kinder or moi'c .sensible man 1 have never known. lie informed us of his ref^i'et in havinji' to issue the order reducing' the wages, and stated that it was made by tlie board of directoi's and against his will, and tiiat he had telegraphed the board and Mi'. Gould, the })i-esident oi" the road, the eondition of tilings, and hoped for instructions rescinding the order. Subsequent events proved the truth of his statement, for at seven o'clock on the evening of May 4th, as we had reconvened, a message came to us from Mr. Clark, announeing the rescinding of the order reducing the wages. Whistles blew, bells rang, and thus ended what threat- ened to be ;i great strike. On May l^Uh of that year, at Omaha, I was married, at St. Philomena's Cathedral, Ninth and Howard Streets, to Miss Susie J. Lynch, a young lady born and I'aised in Omaha, and who had attended the old Jackson and Paeiftc Street grade schools, and later two years the Omaha High School, under Professor Beals. This beloved wife is still living, possessing the bloom of youth, a happy conscience, surrounded by a loving family of eight children (and myself). As one of the parties who had taken a prominent part in the recent strike, 1 Avas called into the otifice of P. P. Shelby, general freight agent of the Union Pacific, and after receiving a sound piece of advice from him I also received a time check, which ended my railroad career and put an end to my ambitions to be a railroad magnate. In recalling my experience while in the service of the Union Pacific railroad, in its local freight department, fond recollections carry me back to the memory of the men whose accpiaintance I formed at that place during a period of three years; many of them were young then and I am pleased to know that at this writing most of them still live and reside in Omaha, and w^hose children have grown into manhood and womanhood; and of those that are gone I am |)leased to say that their children's cheeks need never tingle with the blush of shame at the mention of their names. In that department Avas the agent, a prince among men, C. B. Havens, who afterwards organized and operated the C. B. Havens Coal Co., who some ten years ago left to meet his Creator. The fore- man of that department was D. C. Black, a cool, quiet, fatherly, unassuming man of much discernment, who nppreciated a man's services and Avas ever ready and willing to reward merit, and ahvays encouraged his men. He is still living and it is my sincei'e hope that his shadow may never groAV less. Another of those men Avas P. W. Lynch, check clerk; to knoAV him Avas to love him; physically he was a noble specimen of manhood, six feet one inch in lieighth, square-shouldered, and every inch a man in the true sense of the Avord ; he died in 1897, Avhile serving as United States storekee{)er at the WilloAV Springs distillery. In this department also Avas AndreAV Tracy, a check clerk, an old and honored resident of Omaha Avho Avas looked upon as the dean of the department, Avhose Avord Avas his bond and Avliose OMAHA MEMORIES li> piety and example were worthy of emulation; he died in 1904. Bryan Farrell, another old resident of Omaha, who was employed there as check clerk, was an old soldier, and had been many years with the company; he was a slow, painstaking, temperate, ((uiet and niiassuining man, beloved by all who knew him; he died in 1900 and left a wife and a large family, all of whom are still living and residing in Omaha. Others who were employed there at that time were Jerry Mulvihill, cashier, now bookkeeper at the Omaha Club; George Ilicks, chief clerk, who for many years has been in the real estate business in Omaha, now with offices in the State Bank Building; Alva Cook, bill clerk, now pres- ident of the Union Fuel Co. ; Colonel P. C. Heafey, check clerk, now in the undertaking business and a member of the governor's staff; Thomas Nolan, for a short time agent of the department, who died in 1898 by ])eing asphyxiated; Patrick Garvey, receiv- ing clerk, now manager of the Puritan Laundry in Omaha ; Cap- tain Henry P. Haze, caller, for years, and since held offices in various departments of the Omaha police department and now Deputy United States Marshal; Captain Michael Dempsey, laborer, for many years a member of the Omaha police force, now ranking as captain; Andrew Fahey, laborer, for many years a member of the police force of Omaha ; Ed. McGuin, James Tracy, William McCague, Pat Egan, Terrance Boyd, Patrick Leary and John Minnick, all still in the employ of the company in the checking and inspecting of freight ; George Trumble, fore- man, is now on pension. Frank Pogue and Frank O'Halloran were then filling minor positions in the office and are now cashier and chief clerk, respectively. On leaving the employ of the Union Pacific road, I secured a position on a weekly newspaper called the "Western Celt," owned by M. V. Gearin, formerly of Greeley, Nebraska. I remained with this publication until the fall of that year, leaving it to accept a position on an evening paper called the "Dispatch," owned and run by two very fine men, George and Robert Wal- lace, brothers; this paper was a clean, well edited one, but not a paying proposition, and was sold by the owners, in December of that year, to P. A. Gavin, a book agent, and John Moore, a man of some means and a newcomer in Omaha, and ^1. V. Gearin, the editor of the Western Celt. The plant was located where now stands the A. 0. U. W. building on Fourteenth Street. Under the new management the paper soon fizzled out and suspended operations in the early part of the following year. That being a presidential year and the party nominations having been made, the republicans nominated James G. Blaine, and the democrats, Grover Cleveland, the independent or "mug wump" republican of the east having bolted the nomination of Blaine, hope sprang eternal in the hearts of the hungry democrats and much enthusiasm prevailed. A great republican rally was 20 OMAHA MEMORIES held at the Academy of Music, 1811 Douglas Street, at which John M. Thurston, General Cowin, General Estabrook, John L. Webster, Ed. Rosewater and W. J. Connell made rousing speeches. A few evenings following, an open meeting was held by the demo- crats at Fourteenth and Harney, at which A. J. Poppleton, Judge Savage, Dr. George L. Miller, Charles Brown (then a candidate for congress), W. IT. Green of Kearney, John P. Irish of Iowa and Park GoodAvin (then a candidate for re-election for district attorney) spoke. About Augiist of that year the republicans of this judicial district, comprising Douglas, Sarpy, Washington and Burt coun- ties, held a convention in the old city hall, where now stands the U. S. National Bank building. The purpose of the convention was the nominating of a candidate for district attorney ; the two can- didates who Avere presented for nomination were Lee S. Estelle of Blair (now district judge) and Henry D. Estabrook of Omaha (now attoruey for the Western Union Telegraph Company and a resident of New York). By a majority of four votes Lee Estelle was nominated and accepted the nomination in a speech full of enthusiasm and Avith eyes filled with tears in gratitude to the delegates for the honor. This Avas the first time I had ever heard Henry Estabrook and I Avas struck by the masterly and elo- quent address delivered by him in his promise to support Estelle after having been defeated by the convention a few moments before. This left Avith me a lasting impression of him, Avhich in years of long and intimate acquaintanceship I never had occasion to change. The heaviest guns of the republican party Avere directed against Park GoodAvin, the democratic nominee, also the poAverful influence of Ed KoseAvater, Avith his paper, the Omaha Bee. The principal reasons for the heavy attacks on Mr. GoodAvin were because of his prosecution of a fcAv members of the Omaha City Council and Mayor Chase, for malfeasance in office. I Avas present at one of the many occasions Avhere those investigations AA'eer conducted, and Avheu JMr. GoodAvin accused the city clerk, J. J. L. C JeAvett. of Avithholding evidence of an incriminatiug nature against the defendants; at that preliminary hearing and Avhile addressing the court, GoodAvin Avas so indig- nant against JcAvett, and being possessed of a vicious tongue, he interpreted JcAvett's initials to read 'Mohn Jackass Logcabin JcAvett" (J. J. L. C. JcAvett). W. J. Connell, then city attorney, filled the columns of the daily papers Avith tirades against Good- win, in addition to stumping the entire district against him, for- getting all of the other candidates, from president to constable. It being a presidential year and the district overAA-helmingly republican and the outside counties not being interested in an Omaha fight, ]Mr. GoodAvin Avas defeated, and Mr. Estelle elected. The democrats having elected their first president since the Avar, much enthusiasm prevailed; every prominent democrat in the county sent for a blue book, and Avere for days picking out the M A H A M E M O R I E S 21 job they wanted. James E. Boycl, and Dr. ^Miller, editor of the Herald, formed a combination against J. Sterling Morton and Charles II. Brown, for the purpose of distributing the patronage. Because of the number of speeches I had made during the cam- paign, I was recommended for the position of mail clerk on the Union Pacific road. This came from the Morton faction, with which I had affiliated. A few days before my commission was to arrive, to my disappointment, Boyd and Miller had telegraphed the postmaster general to cancel my appointment and substitute the name of one of their faction, which was promptly done, and that man is still holding the job, and I am thankful for the switch. It was in the latter part of this year that one of the Indian tribes began to revolt, at the instigation of their chief, Geronimo. and I was assigned by the editor of the Evening Dispatch to inter- view General Howard, then commander of the Department of the Platte, with headquarters in the Strang building on Tenth and Parnam. I found the general alone in his department, but I soon learned that I had affected an entrance contrary to the rules of red tape, as his orderly, a heavy fat Irishman named Delaney, had left his post for a few minutes, and I happened in at that time. The general was in deep thought, walking the floor. Hand- ing him my card and making known my mission, he looked at me and began to ask how I got in. Had Geronimo himself appeared in place of me, no greater surprise could have been manifested. However, I did not get the interview, nor do I know what the orderly got, as I left; but carried with me a lasting impression of General Howard, one which I seldom recall in church. This year wound up with the usual commercial activity; the real estate boom was at fever heat;' new additions were being daily platted and C. E. Maj^ne, the king of real estate men, had bands playing, banners flying and an army of men with all makes of vehicles carrying purchasers to auction sales of lots, many of whom soon regretted their investments. CHAPTER VI. 1885. In the early .part of that j'ear I became bookkeeper for the new real estate firm of Cunningham & Brennan, with offices in the Arlington Block. Of this firm Mr. Cunningham was for many years engaged in the horse-shoeing business ; his shop for a number of years was located where now stands the Omaha post- office, where it stood until the property was sold to the United States for the purpose of constructing the present postoffice. Mr. Cunningham at this writing is still living and has ever been classed as a man of sterling integrity, and is now a man of im- mense wealth. The other member of the firm, Thomas Brennan, 22 OMAHAMEM OKIES had but recently arrived from Ireland, where in the early eighties he had been secretary of the Irish National Land League, and was forced by the English government to flee to America bacause of the offensive and prominent part taken by him against the (*oercion Acts of that government. He was a man of consid- erable ability, but of little or no financial resources, but he thrived and prospered, and at the time of his death in Omaha, in 1912, was one of our leading real estate and loan agents. It was in the spring of this year that the Knights of Labor organized their first assembly in this state. Local Assembly No. 2845 was organized in April of that year at 1412 Farnam, upstairs ; its first master workman was Joseph Standeven, a machinist at the Union Tacific shops (afterwards city boiler inspector of Omaha), with Lou Green, also a machinist of the same place, as secretary. I was one of the charter members, and James L. Black, father of Mike Black, of the city engineer's office, was the orga- nizer. So large had become the assembly that it became unwieldy, there being nearly 800 members in less than one year, most of whom M'ere employees of the Union Pacific road. Amongst those most i)rominent in the assembly at that time were Charles Ilnitt, present secretary of the AVoodmen of the World; Henry Dunn, present chief of police ; John Jenkins, United States consid to San Salvador; John Wigman, for years afterAvards with the Omaha High School : James Young, David Knox and P. ¥. ]\lurphy. afterwards mayor of Omaha, and many others who aftei'wards attained prominence. By reason of the congested condition of this assembly, it became necessary to apply for a charter f^r an additional assembly. Of this I Avas also a charter member, and became its first master workman. This assembly was known as Assembly No. 8914 and was composed of members of all legitimate callings (barring only saloon keepers, detectives and lawyers). This assembly had also members who afterwards became prominent, such as lion. C. J. Smythe, afterwards attorney general for this state for four years, and now deputy attorney general of tlie United States, who at that time was a clerk in the auditing department of the Union Pacific railroad ; Ed Aspen- wall and A. Von Trott, cigar manufacturers, and Simon Trosster, afterwards a member of the city council of Omaha ; George Kleff- ner, superintendent of mails in the Omaha postoffice ; Captain Henry P. Haze, now deputy United States marshall ; Rev. W. E. Copeland and many others still living. This assembly, like many others, soon became unwieldy, having attained a membership of 1,000. It became necessary for us to apply for another charter, which was granted, and the new assembly was known as Assembly No. 2122. and Domnick St. Guyer of the quartermaster's depart- ment became its first master workman, with Dr. Lavender as its first secretary, and Charles Wehre. afterwards a member of the board of education, as treasurer. This assembly was generally designated as the ''Sundav School Assembly," because of hold- M A H A M E M O R I E S 23 ing- their meetings on each Sunday afternoon. In addition to this later assembh', there were a few others organized in various parts of the city, making enougli in numbers so that their hall over 1312-14 Douglas Street was occupied every night and from the various grievances of its individual members, such subjects as the eight-hour labor laAv, of which the organization took the ini- tiative throughout the country, and to whose efforts is due the credit of having that question first agitated, this being one of the hobbies of its Grand ^Master Workman, T. V. Powderly. Another subject which Avas hy them taken up and brought to a successful termination Avas that of free text books in the Omaha public schools; this Avas a very difficult problem to handle, oAving to the lieaAy opposition of the taxpayers ; so great Avas it that it became an issue in the school board election folloAving the pre- sentment of the matter to the board of education ; so popular Avas it that it Avas indorsed by an overAvhelming majority and the ncAV members immediately put the demand into effect. Time has proven it to be one of the greatest boons in the aid of educating the poor children that has ever fallen to their lot. and I am proud of the prominent part I took in securing the adoption of such a beneficial measure. In this connection, let me state that to Charles Unitt and John Wigman is due most of the credit for haAdng secured the free text book privilege Ave noAv enjoy. This organiza- tion CA'cntually drifted from its moorings, a step they Avere fre- quently Avarned against taking by their Grand ^Master Workman PoAvderly — their drift into politics — AA'hich eventually proved their daAA'nfall. I recall the prominent part that the leaders took in the municipal campaign of that year. The candidates for mayor Avere James E. Boyd, democrat, and the then incumbent of the office, P. F. IMurphy. They AA'ere captured bag and baggage by Ed. RoscAA^ater, editor of the Omaha Bee, and champion of Mr. Mur- phy's cause. I Avill confess to the mild impeachment that I, too. Avas caught in his grab net, but ]Mr. Murphy was defeated b}' a close margin of 51 votes. Yet I soon awoke to a realization of the fact that the organization Avas fast being used as an auxiliary of the republican party. One more active political campaign and thcA" Avent out of business; it Avas the campaign of 1886, AA'hen they were again captured bj' Mr. RoscAA'ater in his effort to re-elect Charles II. VanWyck to the United States senate. This time the game Avas not quite so raAv, as those of lis who wore the democrat collar insisted upon representation on the legislatiA'e ticket. This Avas brought about at a meeting held by the prom- inent members of the organization, one Sunday afternoon at our headquarters, at Avhich time and place Ave Avere to select from the tAvo political parties our choice of the nominees, selecting as many as possible from our own members, exacting of them a positive pledge to vote for Van Wycke regardless of their polit- ical affiliations. The ones chosen bj- us at the meeting "Avere all 24 OMAHAMEM OKIES elected ; they were C. J. Smythe, Pat Garvey, Phil Andrews and David Know, democrats, and James Young, George Heimrod. John Mathiesen and Mr. Whitmore of Valley, republicans. AVhen it came to the time for voting for United States senator, only three of our pledged gentlemen voted for Van Wyck; those were C. J. Smythe, George Heimrod and John Mathiesen; the railroads had captured all the others, and Van Wyck was defeated and A. S. Paddock elected. The three men that stood by their pledge were rewarded by repeated election, the others never again. In the declining days of what was once the greatest and best balanced labor organizations this country ever had there was formed from what was left of it a body since called the Central Labor Union and, while it is not generalh" known, j^et it is none the less true, I was its first president, and it fell to my lot to settle two strikes during my short term in that official posi- tion, a painters' strike and that of the laborers who were con- structing the Dodge Street cable subway; that was in the fall of 1885. This ended m}^ affiliations with labor organizations. About the middle of that year JMr. Gilbert Hitchcock, now United States senator, started the publication of the Omaha Evening "World. I called on him and secured a position on his paper ; Dr. Tanner had just arrived in town shortly after, and his first position was that of a reporter on this paper. Will Gurley also did some reporting for it about the same time. It was rather a singular coincident that the little room in which this paper was launched that thirty years thereafter that same company should own the building in which it first started. For this success j\Ir. Hitchcock deserves the greatest of praise, having weathered a storm of panics that tried men's souls, in which he witnessed the suspension of two of the oldest established newspapers west of the Missouri River- — the Republican and Omaha Herald. With Mr. Hitchcock at that time were associated Frank Burkley and Vincent Burkley, his father, and Mr. Burchard and a man named Ruckles of Indiana. In this connection it may not be out of place to relate the story of how Mr. Hitchcock become a demo- crat and made his World-Herald a democratic organ. It hap- pened in this way : When the Herald and Republican succumbed the senator hired the associate editors of the two defunct papers, Fred Nye, a republican, and Frank Morrissey, a democrat, each to write articles on the tariff, one to be an answer to the other, in alternate issues of the evening paper, this to continue until Mr. Hitchcock was satisfied in his own mind as to which political party had the best of the argument. Whether convinced by the theories of the Cobden Club or having in mind his political future, I do not know ; suffice it to say that he became a democrat and is now a democratic United States senator from this state. I remained on the Evening World but a few months when, together with A. L. Pollack, former editor of the Omaha Herald OMAHAMEMORIES 25 and United States weather observer, we purchased from Mrs. McDonoiigh her interest in the Western Watchman, a weekly newspaper once owned and edited by her husband, ' ' Little Mack, ' ' as he was generally called, who died a short time before we acquired her interest in the paper. I ran the business end of it and Mr. Pollack did most of the writing ; this was about the only weekly published in the English language in Omaha at that time, and because of the happy style of writing, as well as the poignant pen which Mr. Pollack wielded, made the paper very popular, so I experienced no trouble in filling it with advertising matter; my best weekl^y ads I got from Loyal Smith, N. B. Falkoner, William Bushman, dry goods firms ; L. 0. Jones, The Two Orphans Clothing Store, N. B. Newman, N. Pollack, Martin Elgutter, Louis Brash, clothiers. M3' regular monthl.y ads I secured from ]\Iax Mej^er, A. B. Iluberman and S. Jonason, jewelers ; and William Gentleman, Gladstone Bros., William Flemming, Henry St. Felix and Henry Pundt, grocers ; from Milton Rogers & Son, Morton & Son, John Hussie & Son and E. T. Duke, hardware men, and George P. Bemis, Boggs and Heill, George Ames & Son, Schriver & Bell, Bj^ron Eeed, 0. F. Davis, Cunningham & Brennan, John T. Dillon, real estate. I am confident those names are familiar to many of the older residents of Omaha, it being for their special benefit that I make mention of those names. While managing this paper I had ample time to myself, a part of which I spent at the "Coffin Club," with headquarters at the undertaking parlors of Drexel & IMaul's, where at this writing is located the Drexel Shoe Company, This was a club comprised mostly of newspaper men, as I recall it ; there was Kendrick, Jyles and Allen of the Bee; Gregory and Ed O'Brien of the Republican; Sands AVoodbridge and IMcDonough of the Herald. Those, with John Drexel, Mike Maul, Charles Goodrich, Dr. Conklin. Major Dennis, George Medlock and Elias Gish and myself generally constituted a quorum for the transaction of business, and in the language of the Hebrew, "0, such a pish- ness. " I recall one occasion where a stranger came in and had no place to stay for the night. He was cheerfully invited to sleep on the cot to his right. Some ten feet away lay a corpse in a coffin. Without the stranger's knowledge, Charley Goodrich got a butcher's dog, a large fat animal, and hid him a short distance from the corpse. During the night the dog snored and occasion- ally hit the floor with his tail. The stranger was awakened and, thinking that the man in the coffin was trying to get out, he ran for the front door, falling over several coffins placed there for his benefit, broke down the door and never Avas seen nor heard of s^ince, and for aught I know he is going yet. On another occasion we were determined to rid ourselves of a prominent business man who made it a point every time he got beastly intoxicated to come in and sleep it off on the cot. The chairman of the committee ' ' on ways and means, ' ' John Drexel, conceived 26 OMAHAMEM OKIES the idea of laj^ing him out, and to this end got a lot of candle sticks and candles and lit them all aronnd him and placed a sheet aronnd the cot forming an enclosure. A few hours there- after Elias Gish hid in a pile of coffins and fired off a gun that sounded like a cannon. The man, half awake, looked around and, thinking he had died, began to pray aloud, but finally woke up to a realization of where he was and walked out the back door and never entered the place again. I see that man every day. and he has never drank a drop from that day to this, yet he is still in ignorance as to who caused it, and will be so unless he reads this story, I regret to say that John Drexel, now city commissioner, Dr. Conklin, Ed O'Brien, Sandy Woodbridge and myself, so far as I know, are the only living members of that jolly bunch. In the early part of that j^ear there was tried in the District Court the case of the state against a woman named English Liz, Avho was charged with the murder of Nettie Howard ; they were leAvd women who lived about Ninth Street and Capitol Avenue. It Avas claimed that the defendant, English Liz, threw a lighted coal oil lamp at Nettig Howard, setting fire to her clothing, which eventually resulted in her death. This occurrence took place in November, 1884 ; the case was one of much comment and was stubbornly fought on the part of the state and the defense. Lee S. Estelle, now judge of the District Court, Avas then county attor- Jiey, having taken his office in January following, he then being at the height of his physical and intellectual attainments. The defendant was represented by George "W. Shields and W, S. Felker, both of whom are still living in Omaha. The jury acquit- ted her after more than a week's exciting trial. Nettie Howard's dying confession was heard by Rev. T. W. O'Connor, pastor of St. Philomena's Cathedral, the priest who performed my mar- riage ceremom-. CHAPTER VII. 1886. In the early part of that year I severed my connection with ]Mr. Pollack and the Nebraska Watchman; this was brought about through an article I had written on the marriage of N. B. Falkoner to a ]\Iiss Murphy, as I recall her name, one of his clerks, who was a Roman Catholic and married outside of her church. That article stung ]\Ir. Falkoner so hard that he refused the paper any further patronage' so long as I remained with it ; hence my with- drawal. I then fitted up a store at 1320 Douglas, where for nearly two years I managed a real estate office in connection with my cigar store. Between the real estate and cigar business and the mixing of political medicine, I did a good business, at least a lot of it. This was practically the Knights of Labor headquar- ters ; as they were a considerable factor in politics they had to OMAHA MEMORIES be reckoned with, and many the slate that Avas made or broken in that office. J\Ien almost vmknown were brought out by them, nominated and elected, and old war horses shorn of their power. This in a great measure depended upon the exactment as to whether or not they were persona non grata to Ed Rosewater; as I recollect it, all orders came from him, and I am pleased to say they might have come from a far worse source, as he was tlien at his height in waging war against the railroads, Mdio had this state firmly in their grasp, and it was to him the people looked for relief, and to his memory, let it ever truthfully be said, that in most every effort of his busy life he w^as true to the interest of the common people. It was here that William Coburn practically received his nomination for sheriff; this was in paj^- ment of the debt the Knights of Labor owed him for his support of the free text books proposition which he championed for them while a member of the school board. Much of the organized effort against Church Howe and in favor of John A. iMcShane for congress had its origin in this office and without even the knowledge of Mr. IMcShane himself. This was one of the most stubborn fights ever made by Ed Rosewater against any candi- date for office, thus resulting in the ignominous defeat of Mr. Howe, in a district normally' republican by 7,000 majority. The real estate boom, which had lasted for nearly five years, was beginning to show signs of weakness. As I was both the beneficiary and the victim of that boom I feel that I am pretty good authority on it. In June of that year I sold to Judge Wakely a house and lot which I had an interest in, on Fifteenth and Marcy Streets, for $8,000. Elated at my success, I purchased two vacant lots on Twenty-seventh Street and Woolworth Avenue for $3,300. One year from that date Mr. Wakely could not get $3,500 for his purchase, and I could have bought the adjoining- lots later on for $500 each. The people in the early part of that year were real estate crazy ; to illustrate this : Cotner & Archer announced in the evening edition of the Bee that they would place their addition, recently platted, on the market the next day ; their office was at the northwest corner of Fifteenth and Harney Streets, and by 7 :30 the next morning people w^ere lined up clear to Farnam Street, waiting to buy. They had shrewdly blue- penciled a great number of the choice lots, on the pretense that they were sold, and when the last of the addition was supposed to have been sold, there were many who could not reach the office. As a result, those who had bought or contracted to buy came down the line and sold their options for more than the original price, aud not a dollar invested. The choice lots, pre- sumably sold, were contracted for at fabulous pricey. As a result 95 per cent of those who had bought lost all they invested, and the lots, no doubt, twenty years afterward could be bought for one-half what tliey contracted to pay for them. This is but one of the manv illustrations of the Avild cat boom davs which left 28 OMAHAMEMORIES many a person with an aching heart and a solemn vow never again to be the victim of a real estate boom. During that year 1 met, for the first time, General Crook. He and J. S. Collins bought cigars of me, and 1 was delighted with his stories of frontier life, and more than pleased to meet such a man as the general. He was a quiet and unassuming per- son, a man of warm and genial impulses, void of the frills and ])omposity usually characteristic of military men of his station and fame. I readily noticed the contrast between him and his pre- decessor, General 0. Howard, and felt then, as I do no-w, that the memory of General Crook will be more lastine' than that of Gen- eral Howard. However, 1 may be wrong, yet that will always remain my impression of those two great men. During the previous year Mayor Boyd had sought to remove the city marshall, Tom Cummings, and the street commissioner, Mike Meaney, both being holdovers from the Chase-^Iurphy regime. Cummings was a short, heavy-set Scotchman, who prior to his appointment liad for years been a blacksmith in the Union Pacifis shops; he was a rough and uncouth kind of man, with a genial disposition, knowing nothing whatever of the duties and responsibilities of his office, but kept and retained for polit- ical purposes only. ]\Iayor Boyd appointed many good and capable men for the place, all democrats, each of whom failed of confirmation, the council being republican; a like fate met his appointment of street commissioner. The fight against the removal of those men was waged by Michael Lee and Ed Leeder in the city council. Later on when the council wanted to remove those men the mayor refused to do so. In the latter part of that year ex-^Mayor Murphy died very unexpectedl}'. His funeral was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever held in Omaha. Every labor organization and otiier lodges of which he Avas a member turned out and marched in the procession, which extended from Tenth Street to Twenty-fourth and Farnam Streets. I was one of the pallbearers ; he was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, and I never visit the place that I don't place a floAver on his. grave, for he and I had long been friends. It was I who induced him to run for the city council, where subsequent events resulted in his becoming mayor for nearly a 3^ear. The present he gave me at my wedding I shall long cher- ish. In politics Mr. ]\Iurphy was a republican; in religious mat- ters he was an agnostic ; in all his public and private life he was honest, truthful aiul conscientious, a lover of liberty and a hater of oppression. That year 1 received the democratic nomination for the school board and had as my running mates W. A. L. Gibbon, then a member of the board, and Phillip Andrews. AVe carried what was then known as the lower wards, but were beaten by Herbert Davis, later judge of the District Court ; W. E. Cope- OMAHA MEMORIES 29 land, an Unitarian minister, now located somewhere in Washing- ton, and T. W. Blackburn, then a clerk in the Union Pacific head- quarters and now a practicing attorney in Omaha and late candi- date for congress, all republicans. I recall an incident in that campaign which happened in this way: I met Henry D. Esta- brook on the street, taking him for Herb Davis, my opponent ; I invited him in to take a drink. After taking it Estabrook said, ■ ' ]\rorearty, I am not Davis, but I am his law partner, and in this case I am doing the drinking for him, as is the rule in any agree- able law firm." In this year the Coliseum on TAventieth and Burdette Streets was built ; it is now used as the Ak-8ar-Ben den. It was originally intended for national conventions and gatherings of unusual size, but for a number of years it was managed by Jack Prince for bicycle races, tug-of-war and such other sports as prevailed in those da.ys. It proved a very unprofitable investment to the original stockholders, and were it not for the revenue derived from the Ak-Sar-Ben, would no doubt long since have been torn down. Prior to its purchase by this organization there were held there many gatherings of note. In 1892 there was the first national political convention ever held in Omaha — the Populist convention, when J. B. Weaver, the chairman, received the nomination on that ticket for the presidency. Patti, the great singer, warbled there in 1890; ]\Ime. Xordica sang there in 1907; the world's con- vention of the Presbyterian Synod convened there in 1902; the Thurston and Bryan joint debate took place there in 1894. This was when they were both candidates for United States senator from Nebraska. Theodore Roosevelt, while president of the United States in 1907, spoke there. General Charles F. Mander- son presiding. About the same time the Exposition building Avas constructed; it was large and commodious, being located on Cap- itol Avenue, embracing almost the entire block from Fourteenth to Fifteenth Streets and Davenport Street to Capitol Avenue. It contained a large hall, used mostly for dancing, church fairs and state conventions. Here one of the first charity balls was given, the elite of the city attending, and it proved a huge finan- cial success. There was also a stage in the hall and many good plays were seen there. For about six years the city council met in this building, where was also located the city jail and police court. It burned down December 4, 1894. CHAPTER VIII. 1887. This year opened Avith a very late spring, heavy snows lasting until April, when we were suddenly ushered into the full heat of summer. The real estate boom had declined, rents began to lower and foreclosures of real estate mortgages started ; the ear-marks 30 OMAHA MEMORIES of depression had begun to form, this being the forerunner of one of the greatest eras of real estate depreciations and stringen- cies in the money market this country had ever witnessed, both in stringency and duration. In the early part of that year I dis- posed of both my real estate and cigar business, having found a buyer with more money than brains. I sold to good advantage and then proceeded to devote my entire attention to the building of my home on Twenty-seventh Street and Woolworth Avenue, where I resided for eleven years. In May the city election was held, fraught with the usual excitement incident to those days ; James E. Boyd, the. then incum- bent, carried four of the then six wards of Omaha, but failed to carry the other two. An effort was made to nominate him by acclamation, but Charles Brown and myself, who had defeated him in those two wards, demanded a call of the wards, and I recall very distinctly what ]\[r. Brown said to the convention after the call of the wards was discussed : ' ' Mr. Chairman, I have always understood that acclamation meant by unanimous consent, and this is not unanimous by a darn sight, and it never will be either in or out of this convention." I spoke along the same strain, then Mr. Boyd, pale as a sheet, walked up to the platform and addressed the convention in this language : ' ' Gen- tlemen : I was the originator of public improvements in Omaha and I have labored during my two terms as maj^or of this city to advance and build it up. I have been hampered during the past two years with an adverse city council who have sought to tie my hands, and I would be pleased with another term with a friendly council, but from what I have heard said in this conven- tion and knowing the men who have expressed themselves, I have no desire to face another election, only to be scalped by Comanche Indians." ]\Ir. Boyd declining, Joseph Garnau was nominated. Tie was wealthy, yet inexperienced in politics and was easily defeated by his republican opponent, W. J. Broach, as cunning, as slick and as shrewd a politician as this state ever produced, with but one exception, that of R. B. Howell, now manager of the city water works. It was that year that Lake Manawa opened, and the novelty of the occasion gave it great patronage ; in fact it was to this place what Long Beach was to the people of New York City. I recall a very sad accident at the place shortly after its opening, that was the drowning of Sam Newman, a very bright young Omaha boy, the son of Mr. and ]\Irs. Ben Newman, who ran a clothing store at 1214 Farnam Street. If I remember cor- rectly, the body was not recovered for some six weeks after the drowning. During the month of September of that year the two old political parties held their county conventions. Being a delegate to the democratic convention, I recall very clearly some of the results of it. It was held in the Exposition building, and James OMAHA MEMORIES 31 E, Riley was made chairman, and during most of the time ruled with an iron hand. The old spirit of the fight between the Boyd- Miller faction and that of the Morton-Brown faction was in evi- dence, A test of strength came in the nomination for the office of county judge. I presented the name of C. J. Smythe, and Paddy Ford that of George W. Shields to the convention. Behind the forces of Mr. Shields were James E. Boyd, Dr. George L. Miller, C. V. Gallagher, Charles Fanning, Charles Ogden, Jeff McGeath, Pat Ford, C. S. Montgomery, James Creighton and Hugh Clark, while those supporting Mr. Smythe were Charles Brown, J. J. O'Connor, Euclid Martin, T. J. Mahoney and myself. A rollcall being had. Shields was nominated by a majority of three votes. The republicans nominated for this office Dave Mercer, who had recently arrived in Omaha from Brownsville, Nebraska. The fight was a hard, though not a bitter one, the Omaha Herald, through its editor, George L. ]\Iillar, vigorously supporting Mr. Shields, and with equal vigor the Omaha Republican, through its editor, Fred Nye, supporting Mr. Mercer, while the Omaha Bee, edited by Ed Rosewater, remained neutral, leaning slightly toward Mr. Shields. T. J. Mahoney, Charles Ogden, C. S. Montgomery and myself stumped the county for Shields, while John M. Thurs- ton, Will Gurley and Ed Simmeral did likewise for Mr. Mercer. Mr. Shields was elected by 2,500 majority in a then almost hope- lessly republican county, he being the second and to this day the only democrat ever elected to that office in this county. The following election Mr. Shields succeeded himself. It was at those conventions that the democrats made their respective nominations for sheriff and clerk of the District Court. George Guye, for sheriff, and Gustave Beneke, for clerk, were the democratic nominees, while William Coburn, for sheriff, and Frank E. Moores, for clerk, were the republican nominees. The republican nominees were elected. CHAPTER IX. 1888. On January 4 of this year George Shields was installed as county judge and I was appointed clerk of that court, succeeding George Gurley, Judge Shields succeeding Judge McCullough. Just one week thereafter, on January 12, occurred the great- est and most severe blizzard the state has ever experienced. The early part of that day was beautiful, the sun shining brightly; there was good sleighing; the river was frozen so that it was safe to cross in sleighs ; many people visited Council Bluffs to attend an auction sale of lots. About 4 o'clock, as Judges Shields and McCullough were preparing to leave the court room, a few snow flakes struck the window and it grew darker. I was ordered to close for the day. Judge Shields went to some club, where he was forced to stay all night. I went to Gladstone's store for 32 OMAHA MEMORIES groceries and ineidentall}' purchased a gallon demijohn of rye and caught the last horse car (at 5 p. m.) at Thirteenth and Farnam Streets, the cars then running up Farnam and south on Twenty- eighth Street to Ilanscom Park, where I lived. The passengers were forced to get out and help push the ear up the Farnam Street hill, when about 8 o'clock we got to Twenty-eighth and Dewey Avenue, where we remained until 10 :30. The car was loaded with the elite of the Ilanscom Park district, both men and women ; the storm still raged and the thermometer was fast falling; it was then and there that my demijohn came into place and worked overtime — every passenger in the car welcomed it as a life-saver; even the Billy Sundays partook of it. Finally at 11:30 p. m. I arrived at the car barn at Woolworth and Park Avenues. So great was the blizzard and so drifting the snow that I was an hour trying to find my way to my home, but three blocks away. I was about as close to being all in as I ever care to be within the next twenty-five years, yet my demijohn caused me no unnecessary trouble, as it Avas empty long before the car reached its destination. It was on that day that a school teacher in the western part of the state, a ]\Iiss Freeman, proved herself a heroine. School had been let out for the day; the children had gone but a short distance and were not far from the school when the storm came up. By a shrewd move she succeeded in stopping them, and with the use of a ball of twine tied to each pupil, then to herself, she succeeded in making her way to the schoolhouse, where, by means of exercise and the burning of every movable article in the school, she saved the lives of some thirty children, but was herself badly frozen. Through her act she gained world-wide deserved praise. This lady afterwards came to Omaha and was engaged as bookkeeper for the C. B. Havens Coal Company ; she was afterwards married and no doubt today is forgotten in the whirligig of time. It was in this year that j\Iayor Broach began his crusade of I'eform against the saloons and the red light district, an element that proved the biggest factor in his election. He started by ordering the saloons closed at 1 o'clock at night; many of the OAvners obeyed the order, but one man in particular positively refused; his name Avas Charles Iliggins, Avho ran a restaurant and gambling house in addition to his saloon. He Avas located on the sOutliAvest corner of TAvelfth and Douglas Streets ; he Avas a man of much political influence in the Third ward ; in fact, he Avas to the Third Avard then Avhat Tom Dennison afterAvards and today is. So obstinate and defiant Avas this man that he suflfered himself to be arrested and fined in the police court every day for more than tAvo months, resulting in the ruination of his business, and eventually breaking him up financially. In this connection it may not be out of place to state that Mr. Higgins had the assurance of MaA'or Broach, prior to the election, that neither he nor his business Avould be molested in the event of his election. OMAHAMEMORIES 33 I was present when Mr. Broach, then a candidate for mayor, made that promise; Mr. Iliggins had his doubts as to Mr. Broach's ful- fillment of his promises, and wanted additional assurance. Shortly thereafter (the same afternoon) Mr. Broach, in company with Senator Manderson, came to Mr. Iliggins' place and both firmly assured him that he would not be interfered with. Relying upon that high and double assurance, Mr. Higgins placed all of his hacks and others to the number of more than a dozen, at Mr. Broach's service on election day. I was present on both occa- sions when that promise was given. Results afterwards showed whether or not Mr. Broach kept his word. The way of the trans- gressor may be hard, but the average person would have more respect for the transgressor than for the violator of a solemn promise, but what are promises to sham reformers — they are but pie crusts, made only to be broken. From such reformers may the good Lord deliver the people, both now and hereafter. It was during that year that the site for the present post- office was selected and men were appointed to appraise the grounds. John A. McShane was then congressman from this dis- trict, and much rejoicing prevailed at the news of the location, as many sites were under consideration, and much comment was heard because of the fact that on the site selected was a house and lot owned by the Folsom estate, of which President Cleve- land's wife was an heir. The property referred to was the old Planters' House and stood on the northwest corner of Sixteenth and Dodge Streets ; that, however did not interfere with the loca- tion, and time has proven the wisdom of the selection, as none better could have been made. That was a national campaign year, when the pent-up enthu- siasm was given vent, and it certainly reached its limit in Omaha at least. Big rallies, gay uniforms, men on foot and horseback, brigades of clubs and organizations of all kinds and classes were in line, torchlights and bands galore, men marching and counter- marching, presenting more the appearance of war than peace. I recall one club in particular, the "IMcShane Invincibles, " who wore a uniform more gorgeous than the king of Ak-Sar-Ben; they were organized in the interest of ]\IcShane's candidacy for governor. The democrats won applause with their "Samoset Club," which was organized along the line of the Tammany Hall club of New York, and was in charge of James E. Boyd and James Riley, during the many parades. During that year a number of banks were started in different parts of the city. One of them was owned b.y Garlick & Johnson and was on the corner of Sixteenth and California Streets ; it was operated until 1893, when it merged with one of the other banks ; it had a liberal patronage, but was unable to weather the financial crises then beginning to be felt all over the country. 34 OMAHAMEMORIES The Bank of Omaha was located on the sontheast corner of Thir- teenth and Jackson Streets and was organized by Peter Goos, Frank Wasserman and Charles Needham. It went into the hands of a receiver in 1889. Another was started on the northeast corner of Twenty-fourth and Cuming Streets ; I do not know who the managers were, but recall that Albert Saunders was one of the heavy stockholders. I am of the opinion that it went out of business about the year 1893, for the same reason that the Garlic & Johnson bank did. Another bank was organized by a few poli- ticians, namely, Pat Ford, Adam Snyder and a few other members of the city council, with C. E. Mayne, then chairman of the board of public works of Omaha, as its president. It was located at 324 South Fifteenth Street, and led a short and sorroAvful life. Then came the Nebraska Savings Bank, with a man named Miles as president ; John Rush, vice president, and Dexter L. Thomas, cashier. This bank did a heavy business, but failed in 1895, caus- ing great loss to the depositors, many of whom were very poor people who lost the savings of a lifetime. This bank was in the Board of Trade building. Sixteenth and Farnam Streets. The county convention of the democratic party met in Sep- tember of that year for the purpose of nominating a county ticket. I was a delegate and, as was usual in such conventions, pande- monium reigned. Charles Otfut was chairman and, while he ruled fairly and impartially, yet he showed a leaning towards the Boyd-i\[illar faction. This became apparent when the nom- inations for county attorney and county clerk were presented to the convention. James E. Riley presented the name of W. S. Shoemaker, and I that of T. J. Mahoney. A ballot being had, Mr. Mahoney was nominated bj^ a majority of two votes. Mr. Shoemaker's friends cried, "Fraud," "Sell Out" and many other such endearing things and demanded a poll of the convention, which the chairman, contrary to all parliamentary rules and usages, granted. The poll being taken, Mahoney gained one vote additional, and was declared the nominee of the convention. This defeat was laid to me by Mr. Shoemaker, and I think justly so. At the caucus held the night before the primary, in the pavilion at Hanscom Park, in the Seventh ward, the delegation as there selected was made up of a combination of Shoemaker and Roche delegates. Not being favorable to those candidates, my friends and I were left off the delegation ; the same niglit John jMahoney and I met and placed an entirely new ticket in the field. No one knew of a contest until too late ; the day of the primary our ticket was elected — and that was the delegation that gave ]\Iahoney the nomination and defeated M. D. Roche for renomination for county clerk. At that convention John Boyd Avas nominated for sheriff and Peter 'Malley for countj^ clerk. At that time I was clerk under County Judge Shields, he being one of Mr. Shoe- maker's strongest supporters. I could reasonably expect the kind OMAHAMEMORIES 35 of reception I would get the next morning after the convention, and I recall it very distinctly : at noon I was asked to step out in the hall to make room for a delegation who waited on Mr. Shields for the purpose of demanding my removal from office. I anticipated such and made use of the phone, calling my friends to ray rescue. On the judge's return at 2 p. m. he found another delegation waiting for him, who informed him that in the event of my discharge his renomination was doubtful. With the two delegations the judge was between the "devil and the deep sea." With the packing house democrats (as the Boyd faction was called) and the slaughter house democrats (the Morton faction) he must have been up against it good and plenty ; however, I was not discharged, and the democratic ticket as nominated was elected. This same year two large buildings were thrown open to the public, the First National, at Thirteenth and Farnam Streets, and the New York Life building. Seventeenth and Farnam, now the Omaha National Bank building. Shortly after the democratic convention the republicans held theirs at the old Exposition build- ing, and in place of pandemonium reigning, bedlam was let loose. The office of sheriff was the bone of contention. William Coburn, the sheriff, was seeking renomination; his only opponent was the then president of the city council, Michael Lee, who received the majority of votes. After the secretary had announced the result, some of the delegates wished to change their votes and -the chairman, W. F. Bechtel, permitted them to do so, and Mr. Coburn was given the nomination, but was defeated. One of the largest social gatherings up to that year took place early in February. It was given by Judge Dundy and family at their palatial residence on Twentj'-ninth and Leaven- worth Streets. All of Omaha's elite, including the army officers and wives of Fort Omaha were there, and while I lay no claims to expert knowledge of fine clothes, I must say that there was pre- sented the grandest I have ever seen. This reception was followed by many others given by the leaders of Omaha society during that winter, but not on such a large scale. CHAPTER X. 1889. The early part of 1889 was dry and extremelj^ cold, continu- ing so through the month of March, then suddenly emerging into summer. The republican party having again taken the reins of government, many who were declared offensive partisans were again looking toward the pie counter, as President-elect Harri- son was looked upon as a stalwart republican. In the formation and selection of his cabinet, many people were sure that Nebraska 36 OMAHAMEMORIES would be favored with one office, it being freely predicted that the office of postmaster general would go to this state, and that Ed Rosewater would be the one to get it. Nebraska, however, did not get a cabinet office, and many were disappointed. By an act of the legislature of 1887, through the influence of Mayor Broach, the usual spring election in Omaha was deferred to December, leaving Mr. Broach in office seven additional months longer than the regular term. In November of that year the republicans held their city primary, which proved to be the most memorable of any ever held in Omaha ; the issue was squarely drawn between Rosewater and Broach ; it was a life and death struggle between those two men for the control of the political machinery of the republican party in this city. On the Broach side were the cohorts of the various corporations comprising the Gas, Electric Light, Water Works and the Street Railway companies, aided and assisted by all who had, or expected, citj^ contracts; also city employees; while on the other side were the brewers, saloon keepers, gamblers and hack drivers. Such a disgraceful primary was never held in any republic ; men voted from three to five times and often ten times that day ; wagons and all kinds of vehicles were used to carry men from one voting place to another, and there voted regardless of residence or political affiliations. Every ward heeler was liberally supplied with money, whiskey and street car tickets ; the voting places were amply guarded by t\\e right kind of a police officer. Avhose chief duty it was to obey orders from the ward boss. The next day the men, good and true, the honestly elected representatives of the party, assembled to carry out the Avishes of the dear people who sent them. There being no contests, woe be unto the people who dare question their loyalty to the G. 0. P. Ed Davis of the Ninth ward was elected chairman, and the fol- lowing names were presented to the convention : W. J. Broach. A. L. Strang, George A¥. Lininger and Dr. Mercer for mayor. There were seven delegates from each of the nine wards, requiring thirty-one votes in which to secure a nomination. The convention lasted until midnight of that Saturday, Mayor Broach holding his twenty-eight votes from start to finish, the balance of the vote being scattered between the rest of the candidates. Herman Kountze, president of the First National Bank, was elected a an efit'ort was made to bring j\Ir. Kountze into the convention. This being rumored, the opponents of Broach combined against him and centered on Mr. Lininger, who received thirty-one votes, getting the nomination. I never beheld a more sorrowful and dejected looking body of men in my life than were the twenty- eight delegates who went down in defeat with Mr. Broach. It Avas the three IMercer votes from the Seventh ward that were turned to Lininger that ended the agony. After the convention had finished its business, the loyal twenty-eight delegates who OMAHAMEMORIES 37 stood by Broach, formed an organization which for years was known as the ''Solid 28" and for years was an important factor in republican politics in this county; they were generally known as anti-Rosewater, and proved true to that solemn declaration even to this day. The most prominent men in that solid com- pact were John W. McDonald, Charles Unitt, E. P. Davis, C. L. Chaffee, A. B. Hunt, Ed Tajdor, Henry Dunn, John Butler, Lee Yates, Henry McDonald, B. G. Burbank and R. B. Howell. The following Saturday the city democratic convention was held at Washington hall. Not a candidate for mayor was heard of until the convention convened, when Frank IMorrissey pre- sented the name of R. C. Gushing for that office. Though having served a term in the legislature from this county, he was scarcely known to any of the delegates to the convention, yet he was nomi- nated by acclamation. Each of the nine wards had their dele- gates instructed for their respective candidates for councilmen- at-large. Having had no opposition at the primaries from my ward (the Seventh), I wcs nominated as were the others, by acclamation. At the election Mr. Gushing defeated Mr. Lininger by 2,500 votes, and five democratic councilmen out of the nine were elected ; they were B. F. Madsen, from the First ward ; James Donnelly Sr., from the Second ; Henry Osthoff, from the Fifth; myself, from the Seventh, and Frank Cooper, from the. Ninth; while the republicans elected were W. F. Bechtel, from the Fourth ward ; Theodore Olson, from the Eighth ; pJohn Mc- Learie, from the Sixth, and F. L. Bloomer, from the Ninth ; the Third ward having elected no one, the Ninth elected two mem- bers. This was a bitterly contested election, the principal fight however being waged on the office of mayor and city treasurer. The nominees were John Rush, republican, and James McShane, democrat. The treasurer's office was more a fight of the banks than that of the people, and Mr. Rush was re-elected. In May of that year a woman by the name of IMrs. Bechler was tried in the District Court for the murder of King, a son of a millionaire clothing man of Philadelphia, with a branch house in Omaha, under the name of Browning, King & Go. On Novem- ber 14, 1888, this woman registered at the Paxton Hotel, and invited ]\Ir. King there. After conversing for some time in the rotunda of the hotel, he arose and started toward the Farnam entrance, when ]\Irs. Bechler whipped out a reVolver from some hiding place in her clothing, fired two shots at him, both taking effect, and he died almost instantly. The woman was arrested by Sheriff Coburn and placed in the Douglas county jail, where she remained until after her trial. This case was tried before Judge Louis Groff and lasted ten days, the court room during that time being filled to its utmost capacity and from early morning until the adjournment of court. IMost of the audience were women. T. J. Mahoney, then county attornej", prosecuted vigorously ; Mrs. 38 OMAHA MEMORIES Bechtel being ably defended by General John C. Cowin. The case, after one whole day's argument, was submitted to the jury, who returned a verdict of ''not guilty," whereupon she was released and left for parts unknown, except possibly to General Cowin, her attorney. CHAPTER XI. 1890. The year IMOO found me at my usual place in the county judge's office. After many years spent in the study of law under Attorneys Sam Balliet and Albert Swartzlander, I was on Janu- ary 9, 1890, admitted to the practice of law, after having passed a successful examination before James Mcintosh, now general attorney for the New York Life Insurance company; James P. English, now judge of the District Court, and Henry D. P]sta- brook, now of New York. Hon. Joseph S. Clarkson was the judge who administered the oath, the motion for admission being made by Hon. James P. English. The organization of the new city council was perfected on the first Tuesday in January, and there was much speculation as to its formation; there were ten republicans and eight democrats. Four of the newly elected democrats. Cooper, Osthoff. ^ladsen and myself, with one hold- over, Ed O'Connor, joined with Chaffee, Davis, McLearie, AVhee- ler, Schriver, Olson and Bloomer, republicans, and, contrary to expectations and to the surprise of those in the combine, elected Chaffee president of the council in place of Davis, who expected it, and John Groves, t'ity clerk, in place of Harry Counseman, the one most sanguine of it. The mayor appointed A. J. Poppleton city attorney, and he was confirmed ; he also appointed R. S. Irvine, a friend of Councilman Davis, for city prosecutor. I secured his defeat, and in his place and stead I had the mayor appoint AV. S. Shoemaker. This I did in order to repay him for having defeated him in a convention for the office of county attorney when T. J. .Mahoney received the nomination. Mr. Shoemaker was confinm^d. The completion and formation of that council was xary distasteful to Mr. Rosewater of the Bee, and nothing to his satisfaction was carried on during the lifetime of that council ; the mayor coming in for his share likewise. Notwithstanding that, that council was one of the most economical and progressive that Omaha ever had ; his malediction was heaped «ipon evfivy member of the twelve men who formed the combina- tion : they were the ones upon whom he conferred for the first time the famous title of "Corporation Cormorants' and Venal Vam- pires." I am positive they did not deserve such a name, and can- not say why it was applied; speaking for myself, I know that I had voted for no steal, nor given to any corporation by my vote any rights, privileges or concession's not justly due them, and the on]\- wav that I can account for the title so far as it O M A H A M E M O R I E S 39 applied to me was when I refused to make the ^Morning Bee the paper in which all city legal notices should be published, as against the Morning AVorld-lIerald. I otfered to vote for his l)id providing lie would use tlie same figures for the Evening Bee as those offered by the ]\Iorning World-Herald. I informed him that his morning paper did not circulate among the taxpayers, and 1 was not going to impose upon the public for his benetit or anyone else's. That is the onlj'- reason I could ever assign for my merit to the title of "Corporation Cormorant and Venal Vampire." Every effort thereafter put forth by me in the interest of tlie public, no matter how laudable, both the effort and myself Avere by him ridiculed and denounced. Rather than remain under the stigma of the title referred to, members Chaft'ey, Davis, Schriver and AVheeler began the taking of testimony before Gus- tave Anderson, a justice of the peace, with a view to laying the foundation for an action for criminal libel or a civil action against Mr. Kosewater. Having taken tiie testimony of a few men, the cause was continued for twenty days; in the meantime the mat- ter was dropped, Mr. Rosewater agreeing to publish editorially a retraction of the article, which agreement he kept. It was during the early career of that council that I incurred the displeasure of the president of the Omaha Street Railway Company, IMr. ]\[urphy. It was brought about in this way : The Harney Street line from Twenty-eighth and Dodgs Streets to Tenth and Mason Streets was operated by cable, which system the company in May of that j^ear discontinued, and in addition intended to discontinue the operation of the line, contending that it too closely paralleled the Farnam and Dodge Street lines, but the patrons of tlie line vehemently protested, in fact remonstrated" against this action, and appealed to the city council for redress, where, I regret to say, they Avere given a deaf ear with the excep- tion of myself. I took up their cause and for ten consecutive meetings of the council I introduced a resolution compelling the company to either operate the line or forfeit its franchise to the streets used. My resolution invariably met its fate at the hands of ^Member AV. P. Bechtel, in his motion to lay it on the table, thereby shutting off' debate. At the end of the eleventh Aveek the companj^ made a proposition to the council that if they were given ninety days in which to make the change they Avould equip tlie line Avith electric cars, Avhich promise they fully carried out. IMeeting jVIr. IMurphy on the street some six months after the line was put in operation, I asked him "hoAv it Avas Avorkiug. " His reply Avas that "he was losing $2r)0 a month on it," and gave me "divine notice," as he termed it, that I would never fill another public office in Omaha. So far his prediction has proven true; yet the operating of the Harney line furnishes me more satisfac- tion than any political office I would care to fill. 40 OMAHAMEMORIES It was in this year that the agitation for the annexation of South Omaha got its initiative, which project originated with Ed. Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee. Mr. Rosewater came to my office in the early part of June of that year and asked me to become enlisted in his fight, which I promised to do and did so. fShortly thereafter at his request I introduced a resolution in the city council which provided for an election to be held for that purpose, which resolution was adopted. At the next meeting of the council of South Omaha Mr. Rosewater and myself attended, and had a like resolution adopted. A day was set and the election was held, Omaha supporting it b}- a big majority. It was defeated by a few votes in South Omaha, through the efforts of Tom Hoc- tor, John Ryan and John O'Rourke. I am pleased to know that in June, just twenty-five years thereafter, Mr. Rosewater 's and my efforts became a living realization and the two cities are now one. I having the good fortune to see it, Mr. Rosewater did not ; yet to his efforts and to the continuous agitation by his paper through his son, Victor, is due more than to any other agency the credit for bringing about final annexation. That year we were called upon to vote on the constitutional amendment submitted by the Legislature of 1889, which amend- ment submitted to the people of the state the question as to whether or not the people wanted constitutional prohibition in this state. This was the most interesting proposition ever presented to the people of the state, and one that enlisted more people in its opposition than a question of any other nature could have done. Party lines were almost eliminated, even religious denom- inations were divided on the question to the extent of almost causing schisms in their churches. The state republican conven- tix)n endorsed jjrohibition and nominated Mr. Richards of Fre- mont for Governor ; the democrats refused to endorse prohibi- tion at its state convention, and at Omaha in August nominated James E. Boyd for Governor. The populists nominated John Powers for Governor and endorsed prohibition. The two vital questions at issue were the election of Mr. Boyd and the defeat of prohibition, other political questions and all the other candi- dates were lost sight of. By consent of all the parties interested in those two issues, Ed. Rosewater was placed in general charge and was given plenary powers, which he did not abuse, but most skillfully made use of. The Supreme Court for some reason or other declared the registration law defective, thereby dis- pensing with registration in Omaha. As a consequence every man who presented himself was given the right to vote, a right and privilege which I assure you was exercised on that occasion. I am not exaggerating when I say that Omaha never looked so good since or before as it did to the people of Council Bluffs on that day, and the test of the strength of our foot bridge between Omaha and there was never more fully put to the test than on that occasion. Up to the time :\[r. Boyd got his nomination for OMAHA MEMORIES 41 Governor I had never spoken to him since the time I contributed to his refusal to run for mayor the third time. This reconcilia- tion was brought about at Mr. Boyd's own request through Ed. Rosewater, in his appeal to me to protect the state from the blight of prohibition. At Mr. Rosewater's request I made a number of speeches in support of his fight, for which acts I have no reasons to regret nor any apology to offer. Prohibition was defeated, Mr. Boyd was elected and Nebraska has ever since been kept in the coldumns of the safe, sane and progressive states of the Union. It was this year that W. J. Bryan first appeared upon the polit- ical horizon. Little was known of him here until he made a speech in Boyd's Theater, one year before the time of Mr. Boyd's nomination for Governor. He spoke on the tariff, and everyone there was taken by surprise at his able elucidation of his subject. A few months afterward the Democratic County Convention was held in Omaha and delegates were selected to the Congressional Convention at Lincoln. I was one of those chosen, and for the first time I met Mr. Bryan. He was sitting on a barrel near the sidewalk and was wearing a short alpaca coat. He soon informed me that he was a candidate for Congress. I asked him how he stood on the prohibition question. He said that "he was his own prohibitionist," and studiously evaded the question, and the laughable part of it was that he got away with it. Major AV. S. Paddock of Douglas County was selected as chairman of the convention and there were four candidates before it — Mr. Bryan, M. V. Gannon, Mayor Cushing of Omaha and Judge Bibbs of Beatrice. W. R. Vaughan, ex-mayor of Council Bluffs, and then editor of the Omaha Democrat, was pushing Mr. Gannon ; I was supporting Mayor Cushing ; the Gage County delegates were supporting Mr. Bibbs, and the Lancaster County delegation, ]\Ir. Bryan, backed by Frank R. JMorrissey, former editor of the Omaha Herald, and at that time health commis- sioner of Omaha. There was no choice on the first ballot. The Douglas County delegation in the meantime were indulging in the pastime of crimination and recrimination. Mr. Bryan finding this his opportune time, walked hurriedly up to the platform and in a burst of eloquence appealed to the Doug-las County delegation for harmonious action, stating that if he received the •nomination he would look to Douglas County for the biggest part of his vote. This proved a master-stroke of diplomacy, and as a result the delegation gave him 'the unanimous vote of the county, and he was nominated- — hence the commencement of Mr. Bryan's eventful political career. On his first visit to Omaha after his nomination I met him on the celebrated Wabash Corner, Fifteenth and Farnam Streets. He was surrounded by a crowd of democrats, among whom were James E. Boyd, C. V. Gallagher, Frank IMorrissey, T. A. M'egeath, Paddy Ford, Charles Ogden, P. W. Lynch, Andy Monahan and Al. Cogsall. He hailed me and said he wanted me to take him through the First and Second 42 OMAHAMEMORIES wards of Omaha some night at my leisure, A few nights aft- erwards we made the trip, accompanied by George Holmes and John Murphy, both of the Second ward, and both yet living here. JMr. Holmes is noAv an attorne.y, and Mr. Murphj^ is in the employ of the government in the commissary department. The only canvass one could make in those days after dark was through the saloons, and the first one we entered was on the northwest corner of Sixteenth and William Streets, run by Charles Kam- erah. I called for the drinks, and there were some ten men in the saloon; all took beer except Mr, Bryan, who drank a soda. I asked the proprietor for the bill which he said was $7.50. I told him to call at my office next day and I would pay it. Among other saloons visited was the one in the old Kasper Hall, now Metz Hall. There were some tAventy men there sitting at tables drinking "bulaeecks, " or big glasses of beer. Mr. 'Bryan asked the crowd to have a cigar with him, but they drank their ''cigars." I told the proprietors to send the bill to me, which was $12.60. The next morning my creditors called for their money, and when I told them I was the one and not Mr. Bryan who was paying those bills, they cut 450 per cent in one case and 900 in the other. I simply mention the reductions to show how candidates were held up in those days, Mr. Bryan had as his opponent W. J. Connell of Omaha, who was seeking his sec- ond term. During one of Mr. Connell 's speeches he had occasion to refer to the reduction of the tariff on nails, as advocated in the democratic platform. This utterance of his proved very unfor- tunate for him in his campaign, as was evidenced from their joint debate in the old P^xposition building here. Mr. Bryan carried with him a wire nail and used it to illustrate the need of it in the homes of the people of the west, and their inabilitj^ to buy them because of the republican high tarifl:'. From and after that debate Mr. Connell lost heart in his campaign, and as a result Mr. Brj-an Avas elected by a majority of 10,000 votes, and in a republican congressional district. CHAPTER Xn. 1891. The year 1891 was not one of great achievement for Omaha. The general stagnation of business throughout the country was beginning to be felt here as elsewhere. This, added to the drouth which prevailed for some time in the middle west, causing the loss of crops, much depreciation in land values and general unrest among the people. This condition of things was not confined to that year alone, but became worse each year for the period of six years, as will be told in another chapter of these Recollections. JEarly in January James E. Boyd was installed as Governor of the State and the only governor that Omaha produced since the OMAHAMEMORIES 43 State was admitted to the Union. His entrance, however, was not by or through the door of easy access, as the day before he was to take his seat I was one of a party that accompanied him to Lincoln. He looked fatigued, disheartened and discouraged, because his opponent on the populist ticket was contesting his seat. The House had a majority of populist members, who were determined to gain possession of the organization and in joint session declare Mr. Powers governor. This attempt, however, was thwarted by a large delegation of men from Omaha, Avho, in spite of the State Militia, who were patrolling the corridors of the State Capitol, forced in the door of the House of Represent- atives and installed George D. Meiklejohn, the newly elected Lieutenant Governor, as presiding officer of the joint session of both houses, who immediately declared Mr. Boyd the duly elected Governor, whereupon he forthwith took the oath of office, it being administered by Chief Justice Maxwell. Poor Boj^d ! he was not yet permitted to sleep on a bed of roses. His citizenship was brought into question by his predecessor. Governor Thayer, re- fusing to vacate the office. Our Supreme Court sustained Thayer's contention and he retained possession of the office, which he held pending an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, where Mr. Boyd's eligibility was sustained and he again was inaugu- rated in glow and splendor in April, 1892. In this contest John L. Webster of Omaha was counsel for Mr. Thayer, and General John C. Cowin for Governor Boyd. While this narrative was not really an Omaha happening, yet the people of Omaha were at the time as much interested in the outcome as though it had happened here, Mr. Boyd being an old and honored resident of this city at the time ; hence my reason for inserting it. It was during this year that President Harrison paid a visit to Omaha on his return from the Pacific Coast and pending the Boyd-Thayer contest. A few days prior to his arrival I intro- duced in the city council a resolution Avhich was adopted, which in substance placed the council on record as declaring that one John M. Thayer, being an usurper of the office of Governor of this State, that on that occasion he be treated and classed as a private citizen, and that James E. Boyd be recognized as the Governor of the State, and that he be accorded that honor. This resolution met with the hearty approval of the people of Omaha. On the arrival of Mr. Thayer and his staff at the depot, only shrewd diplomacy on the part of Councilman Tom Lowry, who had charge of the parade, prevented a riot, as ]Mr. Thayer had read of the action of the city council and, being a pompous and fiery old gentleman, he manifested a firm determination to resent what he termed an insult to his high official position. Without his knowledge he was placed some twenty carriages behind Mr. Boyd, and he never knew the difference until the day he died. Had he been in front I am confident his presence would have cre- ated a riot. The President and Jerry Rusk, his secretary of agri- 44 OMAHAMEMORIES culture, made speeches from a platform erected on the northeast corner of the old Court House terrace, Seventeenth and Farnam Streets. While here the President was the guest of former United States Senator Alvin Saunders, whose daughter married the Pres- ident 's son, Russell. A reception was held at the Saunders residence on Sherman Avenue and Clark Street. It was my pleasure to be one of the guests on that occasion. There sprang up in our midst that year a plague far greater than the locust plague of Egj-pt, nay, even the yellow fever of the south — the la grippe of that year, or the memorable "hook worm." This plague was dignified by bearing the name of "Amer- ican Protective Association" (A. P. A.) God save the mark. Be it said to the credit of the native born American citizens, there were few of them at least prominentl}' identified Avith it. Their recruits came principally from naturalized former British sub- jects, such as Canadians, Scotch and English, with a scattering of Swedes. So zealous and jealous were they of the welfare of this nation and so sanguine that the Pope of Rome was soon to be installed in the City Hall of Omaha, that they had forgotten the patriotism of the Sullivans, Barreys and Montgomerys of Revolutionary fame, and the Sheridans, Shermans, Mahers, Coch- rans and Rosecrans who helped save the Union — all of them Roman Catholics. They were presumed to have all been Prot- estants, but T never knew any of them that ever worked overtime in the practice of any religion; they may all have differed in religious belief, but there was one thing they were all a unit on, and that Avas : hatred of an Irish Roman Catholic. The wor- shippers of Mahomed, Confucius and Budha were left to worship undisturbed, but the worshippers of the Meek and humble Naz- arene were hounded and despised. This was but the usual wave of periodical hysteria which often swept over the coinitr}'- — a causeless, reasonless fury of bigotry, where in this particular instance the courts became as furious as the mob — in fact it was a wave of hysteria like the Salem witchcraft insanity of IMassa- chusetts. Our courts, presided over by members of .this infuri- ated mob, where the lives, liberty and property interests of Roman Catholics Avere at stake, were prejudiced and wholly indifferent as to the justice of their cause; juries Avere packed and the mark of qualification Avas the "sign of the order," given Avhile rising to be sAvorn, in a mock pretense to qualifying. All of this, remem- ber, Avas in the name of "Patriotism and Religion;" in the lan- guage of ^ladam Roland, "Oh, religion and liberty, hoAV many crimes are committed in thy name." This calamity lasted for some three years, Avhen they began to break the rope of sand that bound them together. This, coupled Avith the mucilage bind- ing of the cohesive power of public plunder. When exposed, they fled like the Ilorans of Israel before the walls of Jerico, but not until they had looted our treasury and robbed tiie AvidoAVS and orphans. It is to be sincerely hoped that God in His mercy will OMAHAMEMORIES 45 spare this comniimity from another such scourge as that of A. P. Aism. The city council of that year had, for the first time in the liistory of the city, become democratic, through trie previous fall election. Thomas Lowrey was made president, defeating me by one vote. In this connection- — it may not be generally known, but nevertheless true — it was that one vote that deprived me of l)eing mayor of Omaha for one year had I been elected president of the council. jVIayor Gushing had agreed to resign the office, as he had been losing money by holding it, his other business being badly neglected. The reason he assigned to me for not resigning was that he had no confidence in Mr. Lowrey and feared to entrust the city's affairs in his hands. This I am inclined to believe, for the reason that he had always requested me to represent him on occasions where he was expected to preside, thus ignoring Mr. Lowrey, the president of the council. On October 10th of that year, the day upon which Neal was hanged, there was confined in jail a negro named Smith, who was being held on suspicion of having ravished a little child whose name I do not now recall. The evening edition of the Bee erroneously reported that she had died by reason of the sup- posed assault. The hanging of Neal being fresh in the minds of the people, it required but little agitation to bring on the lynching of Smith. The news of the contemplated action spread like wildfire all over the city. The first information I had of it was about 9 :30 p. m. when I was returning from the Exposition building, where I had delivered a speech in support of an ordi- nance then pending, where a new company sought to secure a street railway franchise. Observing crowds of excited people running toAvard the county jail, curiosity moved me to follow. On my arrival there I found James E. Boyd, then Governor, and Judge George W. Doane, then Judge of the District Court, addressing the mob, advising them that the law take its course. When they were through I was called for and, being placed upon the edge of a window where I could barely stand, I ad- dressed the howling mob along the same lines as did the previous speakers. Having my cane in my hand, the pushing and jolting of the mob caused the cane to strike the window glass, making a tremendous crash, which was a very unfortunate occurrence, as it gave impetus to the mob, leaving the impression that the first step had been taken toward an entrance to the jail. In the mad rush of the infuriated mob I was thrown to the ground and barely escaped with my life. Waiting some little time in the crowd, I saw men coming from all directions with hammers and battering rams to break the doors and windows, which they very soon succeeded in doing, thereby effecting an entrance to the jail, where the breaking of locks and bars could be heard for more than a block awav. About 11 o'clock I had started home. 46 OMAHA MEMORIES Having arrived on the corner of Seventeenth and Harney, I there waited a few moments, where I engaged in conversation with Governor Boyd, Gilbert Hitchcock and Rev. P. F. McCarthy, who were deploring the sad condition of things. Shortly after the crowd began surging toward us, dragging the unfortunate victim down the hill and through the crowd till they reached the northeast corner of Seventeenth and Harney Streets, there plac- ing a noose around the victim's neck and throwing the rope over a telephone wire, drew his lifeless body up and left it dangling in the air until it was removed by the Omaha Fire Department shortly afterward. The most unfortunate thing about this lynch- ing was the fact that there was no truth to the story that the supposed ravished girl was dead or even injured, and had the evidence been adduced it would have disclosed the fact that he was not guilty of the crime, which could and would have been proven had he had his preliminary hearing. This is but the rep'eated story of the acts of an infuriated mob. During the summer of that year the present City Hall was completed. The contractor, John F. Coots, issued a wail of lam- entation in which he complained of having lost money in its con- struction, owing to the vigilance of the mayor and city council. In order to recoup, he entered into collusion with W. I. Kierstead and others with a view of furnishing the City Hall with its necessary furniture, on the pretense that the furniture would be made in Coots' mill in Omaha. Securing the aid of an evening paper, he began to appeal to the council with the slogan, "To be made in Omaha," while in truth and in fact a Michigan firm was to turn out every piece of it. Bids were submitted, Mr. Coots bidding $40,000, the Ketchum Furniture Company of Cleveland, 0., bidding $27,000, the Andrews Furniture Company of Chi- cago, $38,000. The Ketchum Furniture Company being the low- est bidder and having the best samples of furniture, their bid was accepted. Before the mayor could sign the contract he was served with an injunction, secured by Edward Rosewater, the hearing being before Hon. George W. Doane, District Judge. The hearing was the most laughable legal procedure ever tried before any court. It resulted in the court's refusal to sustain the injunction, and severely upbraided both Mr. Rosewater and his attorney, Ed. W. Simmeral. The mayor was represented by Hon. A. J. Poppleton, city attorney. That was nearly twenty- five years ago, and the same furniture is doing service in the City Hall at the present time. The taxpayers were saved $13,000, and Kierstead and Coots declared no dividend on that transac- tion. As stated in another article in these Recollections, ^Ms admin- istration began with the enmity of Mr. Rosewater, editor of the Bee, and was continually harrassed, everlastingly humiliated and deeply stung by his vituperation, his vitriolic outpouring of OMAHAMEM OKIES 47 iuvectives, an art of which he was past grand master. Toward the latter part of that administration he began to direct his batteries against me alone. This no doubt was partly due to the fact that I was considered as the leader of the majority in that council and he Avauted to make sure of my defeat in the event of my candidacy for re-election (a purpose which I never had in mind, but of which he was ignorant). To accomplish the defeat of the retiring members of this council, he entered into collusion with the A. P. A. 's, the only concession exacted of them being that he be allowed to name the candidate for maj'or, all the other offices going to the good brothers of the order. This privilege was given him, and he named poor, eccentric, whimsical, old George P. Beniis, former secretarj^ to George Francis Train. All of their candidates were elected. Before retiring, this council was called upon to approve the bonds of the incoming officials, all of whom were duly approved without, discussion, except that of Henry Bolln, the new city treasurer-elect. This bond was in the sum of $1,000,000. Knowing Mr. Bolln 's weakness, as well as the crowd to whom he had given the right to select his office force, I began an investigation as to the financial standing of some of the men that were sureties on that bond and found that John Erk had signed for $60,000, Ed Wittig for $40,000, Max Meyer for $50,000. Upon inquiry I learned that John Erk, who formerly owned the hotel known as North Western on Six- teenth and Webster, was being foreclosed on a mortgage on this property in which he had but a slight equity and was soon to lose that ; Ed Wittig ran a saloon at 1420 Farnam Street and owned his own residence on Twenty-first and Marcy Streets, all of which would be properly exempt, while Max Meyer owned a jewelr^^ store in the Paxton Block and little or no real estate free from incumbrance, thus leaving John F. Coad, Sam E. Rogers and W. A. Paxton to pay in case of defalcation, which prediction was verified a few years afterward when Mr. Bolln defaulted. For this precaution I came in for another tirade of abuse from Mr. Eosewater, who exulted in the knowledge that I would soon be retired to private life where I could not attack the financial standing of Omaha's "business men." When the bond was sued upon, John Erk could not be found, Ed Wittig was traveling for a brewery, and Max Meyer had moved away and was traveling for a jewelry firm in Baltimore. I am proud that I was a member of that council and that administration, as no council before nor since has ever left behind it a greater monument of progress and economy ; none other more justly free from the breath of scandal or reckless expenditure of the people 's money ; one which for the first time in the history of our city council left a surplus in every fund, no warrant drawing interest for lack of funds, and no holder forced to discount the same. Yet they were ruthlessly and unceremoniously ' ' kicked out ' ' to make room for men who came in on the tidal wave of bigotry. 48 OMAHAMEMORIES fanaticism and sham reformation, and whose exploits and defal- cations made the Goddess of Libert}^ on the City Hall weep and wail and exclaim, as did Mary Queen of Scots, "Many are the crimes committed in the name of patriotism and liberty." CHAPTER XIII. 1892. On May 1st of that year the Methodist General Conference jnet in Omaha, and the session was held in the old Exposition building. There were delegates from all over the world, includ- ing bishops, laymen and, in fact, all the notables of that great church. This conference lasted for thirty days. During that time it rained continuously day and night. The most singular thing about it was that no sooner had the conference ended than it quit raining and we had a prolonged dry spell. In fact, the churches asked prayers for rain, which eventually came. On July 4 of that year the Populist National Convention was held in Omaha for the purpose of nominating a president and vice-president of the United States. The convention was in the old Coliseum and, while not a delegate to that convention, I acted as alternate in the absence of D. Clem Deaver, who had been elected a delegate from Nebraska from this congressional district. I attended each session and observed minutely all of the transactions, and in slang language, that was "some convention" — something doing all the time. One notable scene was that of the great parade of the delegates around the hall, following the address of ]\Iary Leese of Kansas. It had the appearance of pandemonium turned loose, a parade that M'ill pale into signifi- cance any ever witnessed in Omaha — banners waved, drums beat, flutes and fifes without number played. This uproar continued for more than an hour, and was only silenced by the thundering voices of W. V. Allen of Nebraska, James Weaver of Iowa and Marian Butler of South Carolina. Mr. Weaver was chairman of the convention. When the committee on platform and res- olutions made its report a like demonstration took place. Prom the days of Cicero, Demosthenes and Maribeau, there never con- vened a greater assemblage of orators. There were "Cyclone" Davis of Texas, "Calamity" Weller of Iowa, Mary Leese of Kansas, United States Senator Peff er and ' ' Sockless ' ' Jerry Simp- son of Kansas, Governor Wait of Colorado (commonly called "Bloody Bridlee" AVait) Ignacius Donnelly of Minnesota (he of Lord Bacon and Shakespeare fame) and our own Paul Van- derford, United States Senator Allen, Congressman AYilliam JMc- Keegan, John Powers, Congressmen Neville, Kemp, Suther- land, Silas Holcomb and W. A. Poynter and old Tom Watson of Georgia. On the afternoon of the second day of the convention, the order of business had reached the point of nominations for O M A H A M E M R I E S 49 president and vice-president. The name of Walter Q. Gresham, a republican with progressive tendencies who had recently re- tird from the office of attorney general of the United States in President Harrison's cabinet, was presented and he received the nomination. The question of his acceptance was a doubtful one, and the convention took a recess until the next day. In the meantime a committee was appointed to ascertain whether or not Mr. Gresham would accept the nomination. It was late the fol- lowing day before an answer came, which was to the effect that he could not accept, whereupon Hon. James B. Weaver of Iowa was given the nomination for president, and that of vice-president was given to James Fields of Virginia. Shortly after Mr. Gresham had declined this nomination he was appointed one of the judges of the United States Circuit Court. Suspicion always rested upon him that this appointment was given as a reward for his declining that nomination for president. This was the opinion of James B. Weaver, as he plainly told me so in a conversation had with him at the Paxton Hotel in Omaha on the 20th of May, 1899, while here to deliver an address at a banquet given by the Peter Cooper Club, of which I was secretary. In September of this year the republicans held their con- gressional convention here, and David H. Mercer was resurrected from the position of master in chancery and made the nominee. This nomination evidently displeased the powers that then dom- inated the republican party (the A. P, A. 's), as was evident from the fact that at South Omaha a joint meeting of all of the camps was held and Mercer did not receive their endorsement — on the contrary, the Rev. R. L. Wheeler of South Omaha, the nominee of the Populist party, received it. In justice to Rev. Wheeler I must say from reliable information that he did not seek that endorsement, nor was he a member of the organization, he being a man too broad in his views to be affiliated with such men. Those who led the fight on Mr. Mercer were Dr. Glascow, then postmaster of South Omaha, and Mayor ]Miller of that city. A few weeks thereafter the democrats met for a like purpose at Patterson's Hall, Sixteenth and Farnani Streets. Edgar Iloward, editor of the Papillion Times, presided, and former Judge George W. Doane was nominated by acclamation. The platform of this convention advocated the gold standard, which began to be very unpopular among the democrats. As a result, he was defeated and Mr. Mercer was elected. About August 15th of that year the populist party held its county convention for the purpose of electing delegates to the state convention. The meeting was held in Clark's Hall, 103 South Fourteenth Street. V. 0. Stuckler was made chairman. The sentiment was strong for a Van Wyck delegation for gov- ernor. This was evidenced by an incident that took place in the convention hall. John 0. Yeiser of Dundee precinct was a con- 50 OMAHAMEMORIES testing delegate from that precinct and sought the seat of "Buf- falo" Jones, a unique character Avith long hair. Yeiser Avas opposed to Van Wyck, This did not rest AA^ell on the mind of a delegate from the Sixth w'ard, Mike O'Connell, a molder from the Union Pacific shops. When the committee on credentials, consisting of George A. Magney, D. Clem Deaver, Elmer Thomas and myself made our report, denying Yeiser his seat, he took the floor and asked to be heard in his oaa'u behalf. This AA^as more than O'Connell could stand and he proceeded forth AA'ith to relieve the couA'cntion of the delay incident to hearing Mr. Yeiser by taking him by the seat of the pants and the nape of his neck and rushing him doAAai tAvo flights of stairs and out into the street, AA-here he remained during the selection of delegates and the transaction of all other business. In this connection it is AA'ell to state that one could have as much fun in attending a populist couA^ention as they could in Avitnessing a circus or a vaudeville. Every delegate AA'as an orator and everj'one Avas sus- picious of the other, and for Avhat reason I never could learn, excepting that it may be a lurking suspicion that the one or the other may be friendly to corporate interests. Oh, AAdiat a skin- ning the tAvo old parties Avould get at their hands ! This is illus- trated by a speech I heard Cyclone Davis of Texas make in one of our Douglas County conventions. He stated that there AA^as no difference in these tAvo old parties; they w^ere likened by him to a man skinning the bark off of a tree — AA-^hen he skinned it upAvard he called it "high cockalorum" and Avhen doAA'^uAA'ard, "Ioaa' cockahirum" — in other Avords, they skinned the people either Avay. CHAPTER XIV. 1893. The year 1893 brought to Omaha people more of the Avoes of hard times and business depression. There AA'as practiealh' nothing doing here. Men AA'ere being discharged or AA^orking half time in almost every field of industry: property A^alues Avere fast depreciating and no buildings Avere being erected. The World's Fair had opened up at Chicago and many Omaha fam- ilies had moA'ed there AA'ith the A'icAV of securing employment, most of them permanently locating there. This exposition proved of little value to this city, aside from giving employment to a feAv politicians, aa'IucIi proved a life saver to them. On March 4, GroA'er Cleveland for the second time became president of the United States, and selected J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska as one of his cabinet officers, that of secretarA' of agriculture. This proved the crack of doom to the Boyd-Miller factions of the demo- cratic party and placed the Morton-BroAA'n faction completely in the saddle for the first time in the history of the party in this state. The scramble for office that folloAved Avould make a nigger take to the Avoods. EA-erA- man that ever voted the democratic OMAHAMEMORIES 51 ticket in the state claimed to be a Morton follower since the state was admitted to the Union, while in truth and in fact 96 per cent of them were liars ; as that is the basis that I ran up against when I conducted Mr. Morton's campaign against the other fac- tion. However, it did not take him long to decide who were orig- inal Morton men and to whom to give the offices. The newly elected Board of Education, consisting of Kev. J. T. Duryea, Colonel Henry Akin, B. F. Thomas, Henry Know- dell and J. F. Burgess took their seats. Clinton Powell was elected president^ and Colonel Akins, vice-president. The Omaha Bridge and Terminal Company purchased 100 acres of land in East Omaha for bridge and terminal purposes. A bridge was constructed which required some three years to complete. It is one of the finest in this western country, one of its spans being used for suspension purposes, permitting boats to pass up and down the river. It is now known as the Illinois Central bridge. The District Court in January of that year was wrestling with a laAvsuit instituted by Judge Doane, I. S. Ilascall and others to recover money paid by them in the purchase of lots sold from the land of the old County Poor Farm. The suit was instituted against Douglas County, the point of contention raised by the plaintiffs I do not now recall. Mayor Miller's body was exhumed after being buried for a week. He w^as at the time of his death mayor of South Omaha, and was found dead in a vacant lot on lower Ninth Street here. Having been elected to the office on what was then known as the A. P. A. ticket, suspicion on the part of members of that organization pointed to the possibility of his having been mur- dered by or through Roman Catholic influences, but the evidence disclosed the fact that he came to his death at his own hands, with suicidal intent. On January 14 of this year Ex-President Hayes died. He having had many personal friends in Omaha, much sorrow was manifest, not only among them but the public in general. The flags on public buildings, including the Post Office, Army Head- quarters and Fort Omaha, were at half mast, and the usual num- ber of cannons were fired at the Fort. In the early part of the year Frank Kleffner was killed by stepping backward into an elevator shaft. He was an old and honored- citizen of Omaha, and for a number of years was chief of the fire department here. He was such at the time of the Grand Central fire, and much undeserved criticism was heaped upon him because of the disastrous results of that memorable fire. Afterwards he was block watchman and had often told me that he was never the same man after that fire. 52 OMAHAMEMORIES The old jail was ordered removed from Sixteenth and Far- nam Streets under an old frame building where now stands the United States National Bank and then used as the City Hall. The reason assigned by the Omaha papers for its removal Avas that "it smelled to heaven," which I am sure was a true, good and sufficient one. Governor Crounse succeeded Governor Boyd, many people from Omaha attending the inaugural ball and witnessing the Governor taking the oath of office. It proved a tame afl^air in comparison to the inauguration of Governor Boyd two years before, when the state militia crowded the State House, under orders from the retiring Governor Thayer, who refused to yield the office to his successor, Mr. Boyd. The Commercial Club of Omaha was organized with Her- man Kounte as president and W. A. L. Gibbon as secretary. It was organized in the old Board of Trade building at Sixteenth and Farnam, and it was but in recent years that it has been known as the Commercial Club — it being called the Board of Trade. The Y. AY. C. A. and the AYoman's Club were both started here this year. The Army Headquarters, which had been located in the Bee building, Avere moved to the United States National Bank build- ing. The northeast corner of Seventeenth and Douglas Streets was leased for ninety-nine years for the sum of $3,600 annually by the Bressler Building Company. CHAPTER XV. 1894. In January' of this year George P. Bemis took his seat for the second time as mayor of Omaha, having defeated Jeff W. Bedford, democrat, and I. S. Ilascall, populist and the candidate of the A. P. A. 's. The incidents of importance in his administra tion are given in another chapter of these Recollections. John C. Drexel succeeded George A. Bennett as sheriff of Douglas Count}' after one of the most bitter fights ever waged for that office. Mr. Bennett was the nominee of the republican party and Drexel that of the democrats. That year Silas A. Holcombe was nominated by the popu- list party for governor at their convention at Grand Island. The democratic convention, which convened at the old Exposi- tion building in Omaha, after one of the hardest fights ever wit- nessed, endorsed j\Ir. Holcombe and a complete fusion ticket. OMAHAMEM OKIES 53 This was the parting of the ways between the silver and gold advocates of the democratic part^^ W. J. Bryan made the speech placing Mr. Ilolcombe in nomination. I recall a part of his speech which was in substance: "I arise to perform a duty; whether the performance of that duty will cause me to sink or swim, I care not ; the platform of the man whom I am gonig to nominate differs but slightly and not upon an.y of the funda- mental principles of true democracy ; I therefore place in nomi- nation Silas A. Ilolcombe as the nominee of this convention." The republican state convention nominated Tom Majors of Peru for governor. Majors was a lifelong enemy of Ed. Rosewater, editor of the Bee. On the nomination of Majors, Mr. Rosewater tendered to the convention his resignation as republican national committeeman, which was immediately accepted by the conven- tion. Mr. Rosewater 's paper supported Silas A. Ilolcombe, who was elected. This was the occasion when Bryan laid the founda- tion for his nomination for the presidency. In August this state was visited b.y one of the hottest dry winds ever recorded in its history. It came from the southwest. having its beginning in Oklahoma, arriving in Omaha about 9 o'clock p. m., August 15. So intense was the heat of that wind that people were driven into their homes or forced to seek shel- ter wherever it could be found. Even the furniture was so hot that it was uncomfortable to touch. This day marked an epoch in property depreciation in Nebraska. The crops were burned up and farm oAvners as well as homesteaders deserted their homes and left them to the tender mercy of the elements, I attended a state convention at Grand Island the following month and saw on the streets of that town some 200 covered wagons, or prairie schooners, loaded with the families and all their earthly possessions. The men were delegates to the convention on their way to some eastern states. Many stories are told of the disgust with which they were filled and their eagerness to depart. One of them that I recall was that of a homesteader in Sherman County, who hung the following sign on his door on leaving : "Good-bye, old homestead, I bid you fair adieu; Some day I may go to hell, but I'll never return to you." .Another was that of a farmer in Custer County who, while travel- ing in his wagon going east, having a small calf hitched to the back of the wagon, was met b,y another farmer who made his new friend a proposition that he would give him eight}^ acres for his calf, which proposition Avas accepted, the deed made, the maker chuckling to himself that he had got the best of the bar- gain, as the other man could not read, thereby taking advantage of his illiteracy unloading on him two eighties in place of one. The results of that ill-fated day were felt in this state for four years thereafter. Fortunately, however, that was the last scourge the state has experienced. The lands that were then abandoned 54 OMAHAMEMORIES are now producing the finest of crops, and will bring all the way from $50 to $150 per acre, and few are willing to, sell at that price. CHAPTER XVI. 1895. The year 1895 found the people of Omaha in anguish and despair. Times were gTowing harder and men and women were out of employment, with no ray of hope in sight. Raids by the ; depositors were made on manj^ of our strongest financial institu- tions, some of whom were fortunate enough to meet the demands made on them, thereby restoring confidence to the depositors, who in most cases re-deposited. Others were not so able to weather the storm and were forced to close their doors, notably the Nebraska Savings Bank, then located in the Board of Trade building; the McCague Savings Bank, in the McCague building; the Omaha Savings Bank, at Thirteenth and Douglas Streets; the Five Cents Savings Bank at 1502 Farnam Street, and the Dime Savings Bank at Sixteenth and Dodge Streets, Those fail- ures worked additional hardship and suffering on the public and the depositors, many of whom were forced to Avait for years the report of the receivers, then receiving but a few cents on the dollar. That year gold was discovered at Cripple Creek, Colo- rado, and many Omaha men left for the New Eldorado, I being one of them, remaining there at intervals for the greater part of that year. On one of my return trips I brought Avith me five $100 bills, which I had realized through a mining investment. Going into an Omaha department store and making a purchase, I offered one to be changed. To my surprise and humiliation I had every important attache of the place eyeing me with the suspicion due only a bank robber — this was but an instance of the scarcity of money at that time. That year W. J. Bryan was hired by G. M, Hitchcock as editor of his paper, the World-Herald, This was shortly after his defeat for United States Senator by John M. Thurston of Omaha, which position he was holding at the time he received the nomination for the presidency. Ida Gaskell was murdered in Omaha by a man giving the name of George Morgan. She was strangled and raped by him and her bodj' horribly mutilated. He was tried and found guilty of murder and sentenced to be hanged. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court by his attorney, R. W. Patrick, but the Supreme Court sustained the verdict of the jury, and he was hanged in the yard of the old County Jail in May, 1897. How- ard Baldridge was then county attorney. Captain Haze made the arrest and furnished the evidence. OMAHA MEMORIES =5 That year Ed. Rosewater completely severed his connection with the A. P. A.'s, whom he had successfully used as voting cattle to drive the Irish out of office. Whether they severed their connection with him, or he with them, I cannot say, but they no longer worked in unison and harmony. Judging from a few pet expressions used by him, emitted from this trenchant editor and his vitriolic pen, such as ' ' Venal Vampires, Cuttle-fish, Howl- ing Dervishes," etc., I came to the conclusion that there had been an absolute decree of divorce granted. While in this mood he called what he termed a "Citizen's Convention," picking from the nominees of the tM^o old parties such men as met with his approval. For sheriff he indorsed John Drexel, who was defeated hy John McDonald ; for county judge he nominated Irving Bax- ter, who defeated J. W. Eller; W. A. Coe, who was defeated by Albion Frank for clerk of the District Court, and Thomas Hoc- tor, who defeated Henry Kelsey of Millard for county commis- sioner. While in like mood, he indorsed Charles H. Brown for mayor of Omaha, who was defeated by W. J. Broach. However, be it said to his credit and to his cherished memory, that he finally rid this community of a band of moral lepers, who must have had their conception in the womb of hell, and spat out of the nauseating and, ulcerating mouth of the devil himself. CHAPTER XVII. 1896. The year 1896 was ushered in with but little occasion for flourish of trumpets or merry ringing of chimes. The people of Omaha, and the whole nation, for that matter, werfe in no humor for hilarity, for the fifth year of the greatest era of hard times, panic and general depression that this country had ever experi- enced was being endured, and with no apparent sign of relief. Every treasured hope proved but a phantom ; the prophecy of the wise ones was but tinkling cjanbals and sounding brass. With uplifted eyes and outstretched arms, they directed their appeals to a benign Providence, and with the slightest ray of hope their hearts were filled with joy, and in chorus would exclaim : "Dost thou bear on thy pinion One vesta of hope, from the starry dominion?" Soup houses and charity stores were the ones doing a thriving business. Men robust and rugged, willing to work if it could be had; men who were never known to depend upon the helping hands of a generous public for aid or assistance, were carrying to their homes food that was dished out through public or private charity. That year W. J. Bryan had received the nomination for the presidency, and great joy was manifest throughout the land, which was but another phantom, but to many it was hailed as 56 OMAHAMEMORIES the panacea for all their ailments. All vacant stores in the down- town districts were used (not hired) as school houses to preach the doctrine of 16 to 1, or in other words, the ratio of silver to gold, tiiat should be decreed in a gold dollar. Bryan had secured the nomination upon a platform that, among many other vagaries, contained the free silver plank. This plank had a very captivating sound — and the average person suffering from de- pression, like a drowning man, was willing to grab at a straw. Hundreds of men, from early morning till midnight, listened to the harangues of men who were assigned in three shifts to feed the multitude on sophistry and bosh, using as their undis- puted authority "C*ain Harvey's Pamphlet on Free Silver." Men who differed from this school of finance were abused, and in many instances attacked. So enthused had the people become that little else was thought of save the financial question. Our sidewalks and streets were black with eager listeners to some recent convert to the noble cause — men who could show you how they could pa}" our public debt of $300,000,000 in one year ; yet many of them Avere never known to figure out the system of pay- ing a month 's board in advance. They reminded me of the name Attorney Jerome of New York once applied to Bourke Cochran, "the Demosthenes of the Mulligan Guards." During the entire year I do not recall a single instance where money was invested in the construction of new buildings ; there was no apparent need of additional ones, as most of our stores were idle, also some 5,000 houses. One of the largest political parades in our history took place in Omaha on the night of October 10 of that year. It was a democratic parade, and all the nominees of the state and county fusion ticket headed it. It was a sight long to be remembered. Following this a few nights after came the republican parade and, while not so large, yet by far more noisy, as fireworks were used profusely. It was under the leadership of John Lewis, then chairman of the republican county central committee. It was that year that Ed. Rosewater challenged AV. J. Bryan to a joint debate on the financial issues of the da}'. The debate was held in the old Creighton Ilall on Fifteenth and Harney Streets. The honse Avas crowded to overflowing, each party to the debate having their friends and their interest in the subject matter. Being one of the audience and free from prejudice, I would say that Mr. Rosewater had the better of the debate and the greater applaus. OMAHAMEMORIES 57 CHAPTER XVIII. 1897. The year 1897 brought with it hope and cheer; the clouds ■were presenting a silver lining; the sun of prosperity had begun to shed its radiant light through the dense fog and mist that for five years had enveloped the financial world. Evidence of com- ing prosperity began shortly after the presidential election, and confidence was fast taking the place of doubt and despair. This disposition on the part of the people was fast assuming a pro- portion that grew as it spread, and by IMarch 4, the day of the inauguration of President McKinley, business began to pick up. The financial question had been settled once and for all time, and money was brought from its hiding place and opportunities for investing it were sought. Soup houses and charitable organizations were fast disap- pearing — ' ' Thank God, ' ' never to return. In their place and stead were real estate offices and commercial organizations. The first permanent apparent indication of a return of prosperity was the awakening of the building boom and the rise in real estate values ; the return of the people to Omaha, and the rapid and sane buy- ing and renting of homes. Houses that for two and three years had been occupied by tenants free were repaired, sold or rented at good prices, and in many instances to the former tenants. During that year more houses were built and more real estate sold than all the years from 1887 up to that time. The city was slowly and sanely beginning to boom ; enterprises that had been closed for years reopened and men soon found steady employ- ment, and one began to feel like living again. That year it was decided to hold at Omaha one of the great- est expositions ever held in this country. This gave added impetus to the growing boom. It was the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, which in 1898 was located here. As early as June preparations were being made for this coming event, which was to open one year thereafter. The location selected was the old race track, the property of Herman Kountze, comprising some sixty acres, bounded on the east by Sherman Avenue, on the north by Pratt Street, on the west by Twenty-fourth Street and the south by Pinkney Street. During the construction of the buildings and laying out of the grounds, hundreds of men were employed, and many families moved to Omaha, where they bought homes and became permanently located. After so many years of financial depression, it was joy to the heart and souls of us all to hear the pleasing sound of hun- dreds of hammers and saws and the presentment of so many beautiful buildings in course of construction. The new white city seemed but magic, rising Phoenix-like from clay — nay, like read- ing a chapter from the Arabian Nights, 58 OMAHAMEMORIES CHAPTER XIX. 1898. In 1898 the joy bells began to ring, not in gay Malehide, but in Omaha; nature seemed to have removed that staring, dejected and melancholy look from the faces of the people, and in its stead left a look of joy, hope, confidence and contentment. A smile like unto that which spread upon the faces of the children of Israel when led out of the land of Egj^pt and the house of bondage. That year began the onward stride of Omaha's prog- ress, and from that day until this writing she has advanced by leaps and bounds and with such momentum that at this time she is safely beyond the reach of all fears, save that of possible fanatical legislation. The gates of this great exposition were opened on June 1, as per schedule, and on that day there were 28,000 paid admis- sions. From day to day the attendance varied, the lowest record being that of September 12 — South Dakota and Sons of Veterans' Day— the attendance being but 7,994. The greatest attendance was President's Day, October 12, when there were 98,845. The closing day, or Omaha Day, there were 61,236 paid admissions. In all there was a total attendance, ending October 31, of 2,613,508 persons. Dliring that exposition manj^ of the most prominent men of the nation visited here — some for the first time, others Avho had not seen Omaha for a third of a century — but all, both in public speech and private conversation, marveled at its growth and pre- dicted a great future for both the city and state ; which predic- tions, after but the short period of two decades, are being fully verified. Some of the noted men who visited this exposition and who delivered addresses were President McKinley, W. J. Bryan, Chauncey M. Depew, John Jacob Astor, United States Senator W. V. Allen, Governor Silas A. Ilolcombe, J. Sterling Morton and many others, including the governors or representatives of the following states : Illinois, Iowa, Montana, Georgia, Utah, Ohio, New York, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, AVisconsin. Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, JMis- souri, Colorado, Texas and the territory of Arizona. Unfortunately, strained relations existed between this coun- try and Spain during the early part of 1898, folloAved by the declaration of war, which naturally interfered with the plans and progress of the promoters of the exposition, but, notwith- standing this drawback, so well did the exposition succeed that it has the undisputed title to the claim of being the first and only one of the kind before or since in America to pay back to the stockholders 90 per cent of the face value of their stock. OMAHAMEMORIES 59 Much credit is due to many men for the success of this great exposition and, without wishing to deprive any of the many who contributed their share to its success, j^et the greater respon- sibility rested with the departmental managers, its officers and executive committee, consisting of Gurdon W. Wattles, president ; Alvin Saunders, vice-president ; John A, Wakefield, secretary ; Herman Kountze, treasurer, and Carroll S. Montgomer^^ general counsel. The executive committee consisted of Z. T. Lindsay, Ed. Rosewater, Freeman P. Kirkendall, G. M. Hitchcock, Edw. E. Bruce, Charles F. Manderson, A. L. Reed, William Babcock, T. S. Clarkson and Walker & Kimball, architects in chief. Not wishing in the slightest manner to detract from the many whose time, energy and money were spent in making that the greatest and most successful exposition the world has ever seen, yet there is one man to whom too much praise cannot be given and that man is Gurdon W. Wattles, who was president of the exposition. I did not know him prior to 1897, and there were thousands of others who, like myself, did not know or even dream that a man of such exceptional ability lived in this state. At that time I heard men from all parts of this nation praise Mr. Wattles for the executive ability he possessed, and for his clear, logical and forcible public addresses. There was scarcely a day during that exposition that he was not called upon to welcime gatherings of various kinds, as well as men of world-wide fame, none of which occasions proved too great for his masterly possession of the English language. When his addresses were listened to or read from the public press men marveled at the fluency wdth which they w^ere delivered and the spontaneous outburst of eloquence and logic with which they were characterized. To him is due much of the credit of placing this city on the map, since which time Omahans have worked in hilarious unanimity and things have gone with them as smoothly sweet and as sweetly smooth as the mother's rocking of the cradle of her babe. May his shadow never grow less. CHAPTER XX. 1899. In 1899 an effort was made by many enthusiastic boosters of Omaha to continue the exposition for another year. . These efforts were in a measure carried out, but time proved the fallacy of the undertaking, and after a few months spent in a futile effort to consummate the undertaking it was shown to be a huge joke and failure ; it soon fizzled out, resulting in a financial loss to all concerned. That year P. E. Her claimed to have discovered natural gas belching from one of his lots on Third and Pine Streets. After 60 OMAHAMEMORIES boring some hundreds of feet the project was abandoned. The boom, thouG,h a short one, created no little excitement during its life. That year the Douglas County republican convention con- vened at Washington Hall, vrhen and where the usual dog and cat fight was the sole attraction. I. G. Baright was in full con- trol of the convention and secured the nomination for clerk of the District Court, and could have named all of the candidates and to the satisfaction of the party, but he chose to do otherwise. Had he given the nomination for sheriff to Miles Mitchel of South Om«ha instead of John McDonald, that of county judge to Charles S. Elgutter instead of D. M. Vinsonhaler, he would have secured the South Omaha vote and the support of Ed. Kose- water of the Bee in support of his candidacy. As a result he was defeated at the election. The democrats acted more the part of wisdom. They gave the nomination for this office to Frank A. Broadwell of South Omaha, who was elected. That year the Southwest Improvement Club was organized, it being one of the first improvement clubs organized in this city. I was one of its charter members. The object of the club was two-fold in its nature — the one to secure improvements for the southwestern part of the city, the other to secure a viaduct across Twent^'-fourth Street and the railroad tracks. The viaduct developed to be the principal business of the club for the first two years of its existence ; to get this prize was not an easy task, as the railroads were in no mood to expend the money nec- essary in the consti'uction of such an expensive structure as the one demanded. Upon the repeated refusals of the company to give any encouragement to the members of the club, much indig- nation was manifested, both against the company and the city council. This protest reached such a proportion as to challenge their attention, which resulted in the passage of an ordinance by the council providing for the construction of the viaduct. The construction necessitated no award of damages and in 1901 it was completed, bringing that part of the city to the notice of many who have since bought and built fine homes there. The building of this viaduct brought with it many other valuable improvements. Shortly after its construction the Street Railway Company ran one of its lines over TAventy-fourth Street and across this viaduct, business houses were soon erected and the street is fast becoming a business thoroughfare, giving the trav- eling public a straight carline from Florence to Bellevue. For this stroke of enterprise too much credit cannot be given to the little band that constituted the Southwest Improve- ment Club. As I recall them they were IMartin Feenan, W. II. Green, Dan Shull, Louis Peterson, J. Pritchard, Fred Shammell, Henr}' Rohlft", A. Zatsman, the Lehnmnn brothers and myself. OMAHAMBMORIES 61 CHAPTER XXI. 1900. The 3'ear 1900 found the people of Omaha in possession of health, happiness and prosperity, the results of republican na- tional supremacy, and the eclat of the late International Exposi- tion. Pew, if any, were idle, and the busy hum of industry was heard and could be seen on everj^ hand. Immigration was fast pouring into our state, wholesale houses were being established here, parks and boulevards were improved or constructed — all giving evidence of our city's future greatness, permanency and stability. In short, not a cloud appeared upon the horizon with- out its silver lining. That was presidential year, and the political wheels began to revolve, and from the start it was evident that W. J. Br^^an and Major ^McKinley would, for the second time, be the candi- dates of their respective parties, which prediction proved true in June of that year. Major McKinley secured the nomination of the republican party at Philadelphia, and Mr. Bryan that of the democratic party at Kansas City, also that of the populist and silver republicans. The democratic party, having Jonah-like swallowed the populist party, many of the old-line populists re- fused to be swallowed, more especially in this state. As a result they entered a mild protest, holding a delegate state and national convention, the former at Lincoln and the latter at Cincinnati, in May of that year. I was a delegate to both of those conventions, and recall with pleasure both memorable occasions. The convention at Lincoln was for the purpose of formu- lating the new party and the selection of delegates to the national convention, at which place and time I was made secretary of the convention and secretary of the state central committee and a delegate to the national convention. At the national conven- tion, Whorton Barker of Philadelphia and Ignacius Donnelly of ^Minnesota were nominated for president and vice-president, re- spectively. Upon our return a weekly paper was launched, ' ' The True Populist." It was edited by DeClem Deaver, Ed. Leaven- worth and myself. This paper had a wide circulation throughout the state and nation, as Mr. Deaver had up to 1900 been the chair- man of the national committee of the populist party, resigning that year becavise of the tendency of the party toward Bryan and his followers. IMr. Deaver at the time of his resignation had been steward at the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Omaha. His resignation from the national committee incurred the displeasure of the then Gov- ernor Poynter. As a consequence he was removed and a demo- crat — William Seavers — Avas appointed in his place. This added fuel to the flames, and a bitter feeling arose against the governor. OMAHA MEMORIES At that time the populist party of this county had for the past two years maintained elaborate headquarters at 1515 How- ard Street. This club was kno"WTi as the "Peter Cooper Club," which organization I was the instrument of forming and its sec- retary during its lifetime. A division in the party having arisen, we were fast coming to the parting of the roads. This culmi- nated on June 1 of that year, when the populist-fusionists, "pie- biters," under the democratic party, sought to gain possession of the rooms. This, however, was not without a struggle, as Victor "Wilson of Stromsburg, then state bank examiner and a resident of Omaha and member of the club, aided and abetted by members John Barnett, George A. Maguey, J. B. Jones, John O. Yeiser, Elmer E. Thomas and a few others of their following demanded and took forcible possession. Being dispossessed, we began to devise Avays and means of regaining possession. To that end Mr. Deaver, L. V. Guye and Ed. Leavenworth proceeded to my office and there I drew up articles of incorporation and in- corporated the organization, filing them the next morning with the County Clerk. We then by a ruse gained possession and changed the locks, thereby remaining in peace during the life of the club. This was the state headquarters of what was known as the "middle of the road" populists party during the cam- paign of that year. After having defeated Mr. Bryan in this state as well as the entire democratic state ticket and killing the populist party as well, we adjourned sine die, sold the furniture and affiliated with the old parties, some with the democratic, some with the socialists, I joining fortunes with the republicans, with whom I have ever since remained. Of the populist party I will say, that during the eight years that I was connected with it, they were years of pleasant memories; in that party I met some of the brightest and brainiest men that I have ever known or ever expect to know. I met men in that party who knew more of the science of government than the professors in all our colleges in this nation ; from them I learned more than I ever expected to know in a lifetime ; they were not party men by inheritance but by careful research of mature investigation, men who had analyzed and solved every problem that the human mind stimulated by the best inspira- tions that man was capable of bringing to the task. All the reform legislation enacted into laws since then has been bor- rowed by both the old parties from the doctrines enunciated by the old bewhiskered populist party. And of the democrats I will say, that Avlien they succeeded in swallowing the populist party, they had more brains in their stomachs than in their heads. OMAHAMEMORIES 63 CHAPTER XXII. 1901. In 1901 I moved from Twenty-fifth and Poppleton Avenue to Twenty-second and Grant Streets. This was the first time during my long residence in Omaha that I had ever lived north of Burt Street; it seemed like moving to a new city, having lived in the Hanscom Park district for so many years. The topog- raphy of that part of the city was so vastly different that I felt like offering my new home for sale at a sacrifice, but I soon changed my mind and became acclimated, and waited until I traded it for a home in Kountze Place, where I resided until August of the year 1915, when I moved to my present home, 1106 South Thirty-first Street. In that year (1901) the Twenty-fourth Street viaduct was completed and on Thanksgiving day was dedicated and opened to the public, the ceremonies taking place on the center of the structure. There were four speeches made on that occasion ; those who spoke were Andrew Rosewater, Mayor Frank E. Moores, Henry T. Clark and myself ; of those I regret to state that all are dead but me, and of them I will say "may their souls rest in peace," for they were all good and honored citizens, ever ready for renewed efforts in the preserving promotion of human happiness and the upbuild of Omaha. That year many Omaha people went to the inaugural ball of President McKinley on March 4th. So great was the crowd that a special car was chartered ; among them I noticed Edward Rosewater, Bradner D. Slaughter, William Summers, John C. Wharton and John L. Kennedy. Unfortunately the joy of that occasion was soon to be turned into gloom, as it was that year that the noble McKinley was assassinated at the Buffalo Exposition, by an anarchist whose name I cannot and do not wish to remember. The news of the sorrowful tragedy reached Omaha about 4 o'clock P. M., Sep- tember 6th. The first to tell me of it was John B. Furay, a personal friend of the president ; the report soon spread like wildfire, crowds assembled on all corners, with sorrowful faces discussing the tragedy and silently praying for his recovery. Extra papers were issued every hour and sold as fast as the press could print them. This fever of excitement continued from day to day until the president drew his last breath, September y4th, Avhen many a strong man wept like a little child both in private and in public, showing conclusively how dear and near he was to the hearts of the American people. On the day of the funeral, memorial services were held in Boyd's Opera House, at which fitting and appropriate addresses were delivered by John M. Thurston, Edward Rosewater, John L. Webster, John 64 OMAHA MEMORIES C. Cowin and W. J. Coimell, recalling to the minds of the people the day that President Garfield was buried, as the same men spoke on that occasion just twenty years before. The day was declared a holiday and business houses and all public buildings were closed, as were also railroad shops and headquarters. There Avere but few^ incidents other than those here related, during the year 1901, save the installation of a few public offi- cials. CHAPTER XXIII. 1902. In January of 1902, George W. Shields succeeded himself as County Attorney, and appointed as his deputies I. J. Dunn, Harry Burnam and John H. Grossman. In the campaign just closed he defeated John W. Parrish, republican ; in that cam- paign Shields Avas opposed by the most powerful combination that ever fought a candidate for office in this county. It con- sisted of Edward Rosewater, Mayor Moores, A. B. Hunt, of the waterworks, and Tom Dennison, who had just been installed as Third Ward boss. The gamblers of Omaha and South Omaha sought to defeat Judge Shields in the convention. To that end they raised a purse and selected J. B. Kilkenny as the one to defeat him ; added to this they had the convention located in South Omaha, for the first time in the history of the county, but to no avail, as he was nominated and elected. In April of that year Omaha was visited by an unusually high wind which played havoc Math billboards, signs and un- finished frame buildings, making its appearance about eight o'clock in the evening. It did considerable damage and many casualties were reported, among them being that sustained by ex-Mayor Bemis, who, wdiile on his way home, had his leg broken by a fallen billboard, on Nineteenth and Farnam Streets, result- ing in his being a cripple for a number of years afterward, or until the $20,000 lawsuit which he instituted against the city as damages, was liquidated and settled, since which time his crutches were, by order of his attorney, W. J. Connell, placed in cold storage. The Sacred Heart Church at Twenty-second and Binney Streets was dedicated with much ceremony, Bishop Richard Scannell officiating. A terrific boiler explosion occurred at the Swift Packing House, resulting in the fatal injury to three men, and much damage to the plant. The well-known and long-established firm of W. R. Bennett went into the hands of a receiver, with liabilities far in excess of its assets. Much of this financial ill-luck was no doubt brought OMAHAMEMORIES 65 about through a change of location, having moved to Sixteenth and Harney before business had reached that far south on Six- teenth Street. In December of that year Campbell Fair, dean of Trinity Cathedral, died. A fire in the stock yards at South Omaha caused a loss of $50,000. The street car lines on South Thirteenth and South Twenty-fourth streets were extended to South Omaha. Gilbert M. Hitchcock was, in November of that year, elected to Congress for the first time, having defeated his opponent, Dave Mercer, by 1,500 majority. CHAPTER XXIV. 1903. On January 23, of this year, J. L. Brandeis, founder of the J. L. Brandeis Stores, died. The Omaha Coal Exchange formed a well planned trust, the purpose of which was to raise the price of coal. A man by the name of Howell (not Ed Howell) was elected president. This newly-born of the many then existing trusts, was swimming with the tide when it suddenly received a solar plexus blow at the hands of Judge A. L. Sutton, then judge of the District Court of Douglas County, criminal proceedings having been instituted against Mr. Howell, its president, — in violation of the anti-trust law of this state, resulting in Judge Sutton finding the defendant guilty and imposing a severe fine in addition to fining his attorney, W. J. Connell, for contempt of court, in his overzealous effort in behalf of his client. Detective Henry Heitfeldt shot Harry Woods while the officers were raiding a tough Third Ward joint, where a number of desperate criminals were congregated with a view and for the purpose of laying plans to kill a number of Omaha's police. Woods did not die from the wounds, and that Heitfeldt was not killed was due to his quick shot at the criminal. An explosion of a gas tank at Twentieth and Center Streets could be heard for miles; no serious loss was sustained, nor injuries reported but the debris was scattered for blocks around, demolishing windows and roofs of small houses. President Stickney of the Chicago & Great Western Rail- road delivered an address before the Commercial Club in which he advocated making Omaha a grain market, and outlined a plan of action which provided the nucleus around Avhich grew and from which sprang our present grain market, now the second largest in the world. To carry into effect his plans a tract of 66 OMAHAMEMORIES land was purchased in the southwest part of the city, known as Sheeley Station, upon which is now built many grain ele- vators of enormous capacity. So successful was this under- taking that it resulted in the formation of a Grain Exchange, which at this writing has completed a six-story fireproof build- ing at Nineteenth and Harney streets and known as the Grain Exchange Building. In the fall of that year ncAvs reached Omaha of the disastrous Iroquois fire at Chicago ; many Omahans were in much distress concerning friends and relatives whom they feared might have been victims of the disaster, but when reports were all in it developed that but two Omaha people had lost their lives and one seriously injured in that memorable fire. CHAPTER XXV. 1904. In January of that year Attorney W. C. Ives died of appen- dicitis. He was an old resident of this city and brother-in-law of Attorney W. J. Connell. Count Creighton donated to the Creighton University the Creighton and Arlington Blocks, properties valued at $250,000. Congressman Hitchcock secured a victory for Omaha in maintaining the Indian Avarehouse at this place, in addition to getting an appropriation of $10,000 for its maintenance. Superintendent Pearse of the Omaha schools was elected superintendent of the schools of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, severing his connection with this city, having served as superintendent of schools at this place for ten j^ears. R. Beecher Howell filed charges against and secured the conviction of Thomas Klopp, in connection with frauds in the recent city primary election, for members of the water board. Joseph Falk, governor of Missouri, and candidate for vice- president of the United States, spoke at the Auditorium. In his address he lauded County Attorney James English for his work in cleaning up the morals of this city. The home of Elmer E. Thomas, at 4636 Douglas Street, was dynamited — at least it was so claimed. The bomb was said to have been placed under the porch of his residence, and fired at 1:30 a. m., while he and his family were at home and asleep. Mr. Thomas had taken a prominent part in the siip- pression of vice in Omaha, as well as a leading part in the prosecution of one of Omaha's leading politicians. In view of his activity suspicion at once rested on the party or parties whose displeasure he had incurred. Upon investigation, how- ever, the whole matter turned into a farce, and my friend Elmer OMAHA MEMORIES 67 failed to make a ease, and the matter was dismissed by the court of public opinion, there being no sufficient grounds for a cause of action. Frank Murphy, president of the Street Railway Comapny, died in New York of heart failure ; he was an old resident of Omaha and a millionaire, a brother of Mrs. Cummins, wife of the first territorial governor of Nebraska. CHAPTER XXVI. 1905. J. H. Evans, one of Omaha's pioneer business men, died at Dallas, Texas, where he went to recuperate. J. H. N. Patrick died at his home in Happy Hollow, at the age of 77 years; he was one of the early pioneers of this city, and at one time owned all the land upon which the city of Dundee is now built. February 3 was the coldest day experienced by Nebraskans for years, it being 25 degrees below zero, following a thaw, Avhich left the ground covered with sleet and ice, thereby imped- ing traffic of all kind. The extreme cold of that day is fully impressed on my mind for the reason that I nursed a pair of frozen ears for a week afterward. That fall the republicans elected their entire county ticket by majorities of from 500 to 5,000. Gurdon W,. Wattles was crowned King Ak-Sar-Ben the XI. The second annual horse show was held in Omaha in the fall of that year, this making the last one of that kind here, as the automobile show has taken its place. The implement men held a state convention here which was largely attended by their dealers from all over the United States. Miss Eva Booth, commander-in-chief of the Salvation Array, arrived in Omaha and was enthusiastically received and given a royal welcome. Sylvester R. Rush, reputy attorney general of the United States, was instructed from Washington to vigorously prosecute the Nebraska land grabbers and cattlemen, which he proceeded to do, resulting in the fining and imprisonment (for the first time in the history of such prosecutions) many of the men con- nected with those frauds, and permitting the poor homesteaders ever after to live in peace and contentment. Pat Crowe was arrested in Butte, Montana, and brought back to Omaha on requisition papers issued by the governor of this state, and in the fall was tried on the charge of shooting an officer, but was acquitted. 68 OMAHAMEMORIES CHAPTER XXVII. 1906. The crime for which Pat Crowe was tried in the spring of 1906 is familiar to everyone in both hemispheres, both in song and story. He was an Omaha boy, at least had lived here the greater part of his life. On December 19th, 1900, a son, Eddie, of the millionaire packer, EdAvard Cudahy, was reported miss- ing, and having been absent for more than a week it was feared that he had been either kidnapped or foully dealth with. At the end of a week Mr. Cudahy received a letter in which he was given to understand that on the deposit of $25,000 in gold at a spot west of the city limits of Omaha, about Fifty-eighth and Center Streets, the boy would be returned, otherwise his eye- sight would be destroyed. It is claimed that the money Avas so deposited as requested ; the boy having returned was tak,en as evidence of the presumption that the money had been received. Pat Crowe, having figured in many brazen escapades, suspicion at once turned to him as the guilty person. This, coupled with the fact that he could not be found in his customary haunts, confirmed the suspicion ; whether guilty or not CroAve Avas not to be found, notAvithstanding a rcAvard of $50,000, Avhich Avas offered for his apprehension alone. During the first part of this year he Avas tried in the District Court of Douglas County, jointly Avith one James Callahan, for kidnaping. He Avas tried before Judge A. L. Sutton, trial judge, and defended by Albert Richie and James P. English, now one of the judges of the dis- trict court of Douglas County, and prosecuted by W,. W. Sla- baugh, the then county attorney, assisted by F. W. Fitch, one of his deputies. The trial Avas a long draAvn out one, having lasted for more than a Aveek, the outcome of which Avas eagerly awaited by the Avhole country. The instructions given by the trial judge were fair, both to the state and the defense ; the jury having deliberated tAvo days it returned a verdict of "not guilty ; ' ' Avhereupon the court discharged the accused. The Omaha business men gave a banquet at the Commercial Club in honor of A. L. Mohler, who moved to Omaha, having been appointed vice-president and general manager of the Union Pacific railroad. In the fall of this year Nels Lausten, a saloonkeeper at Twenty-second and Cuming Streets, Avas shot and instantly killed in his place of business about 9 o'clock P. M. The murderers were Jay O'Hearn, Raymond Nelson, Leo Angus and James Warren, all of Avhom were soon apprehended by the police. Tavo of the criminals — Warren and Angus — confessed and turned state's evidence, and were each given life sentences; Nelson and O'Hearn Avere tried, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged; on appeal the Supreme Court reduced the sentences to life im- OMAHAMEMORIES 69 prisonnient, since which time all of them have been paroled, and at this writing are at large. Frank Clark, manager of the Brandeis Bank, was held up and shot on his Avay home, by footpads. The shooting did not prove fatal and he soon recovered. CHAPTER XXVIII. 1907. In 1907 a taste of the Blue Laws of Connecticut was given the people of Omaha, which occasion will be long remembered as "Blue Sunday." The fanatics had so aggravated ]Mayor Moores about his failure to enforce the Sunday laws that he issued an order to the chief of police to strictly enforce the law regard- less of the many inconveniences which would result. This order the then Chief Donahue carried out and enforced both in the letter and spirit of the law. Not a place of business of any nature or character M^as permitted to open their doors; not a drug store, nor a place of amusement, not a street car turned a wheel; nor a vehicle travelled the streets. That this strict enforcement of the law was not in keeping with the sentiment of the people of a growing western city, and in this day and age, was very evident, as more than 100 arrests were made through the effort to enforce it. One Sunday of such strictness was a genteel sufficiency, as the public rose en masse and clam- ored for a sane and liberal construction of the laws, and the mayor, in obedience to the almost unanimous demand of the people, so acted. This is proof sufficient, if any be needed, to convince fanatics that that brand of Connecticut seed will not grow on Nebraska's rich and fertile soil. Frank J. Carpenter, of the Carpenter Paper Company, died, after an illness of several Aveeks, having suffered a nervous breakdown. Count John A. Creighton, one of the founders of Creighton University, died February 7th at the age of 75 years. Arthur Jacquith was found dead in Kountze Park. C. C. Hungate, a young Omaha man, son of Jake Hungate, was killed in the shafting of the Omaha Ice & Cold Storage Building. The plumbers struck for higher wages, erij^pling the build- ing industry for more than four months. The city council celebrated in a befitting manner its Fiftieth anniversary, the first city clerk and the son of the first mayor of Omaha participating. 70 OMAHAMEMORIES The cornerstone of St. Cecilia's Catholic Cathedral was laid, all of the parishes in the bishopric diocese taking part. Arch- bishop Ireland, of St. Paul, Minnesota, delivered the principal address of the occasion. Architect Kimball, who designed the plans, delivered a short speech. The Cady Lumber Company, Sixth and Douglas Streets, sus- tained a $10J000 loss by fire. The Omaha postoffice reported having handled 48,000,000 pieces of mail during the year. H. J. Penfold sustained a loss of $30,000 through the burning of his drug store at 1408 Farnam Street. Harrison Clark held up and shot to death Edward Fleury, an Omaha street car conductor, at the Albright terminus of the South Omaha earline. Clark was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. The supreme court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment, and the Pardon Board has up to this writing refused to grant a parole. H. C. Cady dropped dead at Thirteenth and Locust Streets, of heart failure, caused in part by the excessive heat. Judge George B. Lake succumbed to the heat and died. Richard S. Hall, one of Omaha's most prominent attorneys, died of Bright 's disease. CHAPTER XXIX. 1908. The Jacksonian Club gave its seventeenth annual banquet, at which W. J. Bryan was the principal speaker. The financial panic, which struck the country in the latter part of 1907 and lasted but a short time, was by the Omaha clearance house declared off; this association included all the banks of Omaha and South Omaha. Following this, confidence was immediately restored, and business assumed its natural course of activity. Judge Isaac Hascall, one of Omaha's most prominent public men and old pioneers, died. The Y. M. C. A. celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a banquet, etc. Meyer & Raapke's grocery store sustained a $15,000 loss by fire. Benjamin F. Thomas was appointed postmaster of Omaha, and a banquet was tendered him by the Equal Rights Political Club, of which he Avas a prominent member. Sam Drummy, one of Omaha's ablest and shrewdest detec- tives, was shot and instantly killed by a negro, William Jones, OMAHA MEMORIES 71 while under arrest at South Omaha. There was a running fire of shots, in which Detective Michael Sullivan was also injured, but not fatally ; Jones was shot and instantly killed by Detective Shields of the South Omaha police force, during the melee. Mrs. E. L. Dodder, wife of Dodder, the undertaker, was burned to death, and a sister fatally injured as a result of a gasoline explosion, while cleaning curtains in the basement of the family home. A grand jury decreed that the old infamous Arcade should go, and its cribs should close; the Arcade here mentioned was located on Ninth and Capitol Avenue, on the south side of the street, and consisted of a regular village of cribs or one-story bricks, used as houses of prostitution ; they were built and owned by M. F. Martin, an Omahan who had massed a fortune in the renting and collecting of rents from women of the underworld — prior to the passage of the Albert law. The Republican State Convention met at Boyd's Opera House, for the purpose of electing delegates to the national con- vention and selecting a national committeeman. The delegation was instructed for Taft for president. Morris Christensen was drowned in a cistern, in an effort to rescue his child who had fallen in; he held the baby above water until lifted out by friends, then sank to the bottom exhausted and was taken out dead. The Democratic and Populist State Conventions were each held in Omaha, the former in the Auditorium, and the latter in Washington Hall, where they selected delegates to their respec- tive national conventions, and instructed for Bryan for president, CHAPTER XXX. 1909. President Taft arrived in Omaha, and was the guest of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben at thdir Den for the evening. The street car strike was on and he was asked to use his best efforts to effect a settlement. The President, deeming it a local matter, did not interfere. During his stay here he was entertained and banqueted at the Omaha Club, was driven around the city in an automobile, followed by a long train of prominent citizens in autos, after which he expressed much delight at the progress of the city, and extended his thanks for the generous welcome given him. As before stated, the street car men went on a strike, the cause assigned I cannot recall, suffice it to say that for two weeks the people Avere Mathout street car service and had to walk. The company imported strike-breakers to take the place 72 OMAHAMEMORIES of the strikers, and managed to run cars at intervals. The desire to ride was too hazardous, as many of the operated cars were demolished by the angry populace. President Wattles of the company made a proposition to the strikers that in the event of their returning to Avork each man would be given his old job, and would maintain the established rule of seniority in line of advance salary, but would not treat with or recognize any over- tures coming from their union. This the strikers refused to accept. As a final result the men were forced to return to work, as many of them as were acceptable to the company; many of whom lost their jobs and Avere forced to seek others. The Omaha National Bank bought the New York Life Build- ing and grounds at Seventeenth and Farnam Streets for $700,000. This is the ground formerly occupied by Joseph H. Millard, the president of this bank, as a residence, having sold it to the New York Life in 1887 for $100,000. One of the most brilliant military parades ever witnessed in Omaha took place here during the carnival; it proved one of the greatest features of the Ak-Sar-Ben daylight parade. The soldiers of Fort Omaha and other forts were returning from encampment at some place in Iowa, and marched across the Council Bluffs bi'idge; there were 5,000 troops — cavalry, artillery and infantry. They gave drills and different exhibitions at Fort Omaha during the M^eek. Euclid Martin, former postmaster and former president of the Commercial Club, was given a banquet by the members of that club ; it was a farewell dinner given him before his de- parture from Omaha to his new home in the west, after a residence of 27 years here, where he was honored, loved and respected by all who knew him during all those busy years. Frank L. Henry shot and instantly killed his wife at Fif- teenth and Leavenworth Streets on July 3rd. He was charged with first degree murder and I was appointed by Judge A. L. Sutton to defend him. As I recall the facts, Henry worked for a laundry company at TAventy-second and Cuming Streets, where his wife Avas also employed for awhile, when she left, to Avait table at Balduff's restaurant. After quitting time, about 9 o'clock at night, one of the men in the restaurant accompanied her to the home of her parents at Fifteenth and LeaveuAvorth Streets. Henry, being of a jealous disposition, shadoAved her to her destination ; entering the house by the rear door he asked to see his Avife in pri\'ate, Avhich privilege Avas accorded him. Flushed Avith the spirit of jealousy and licfuor, he fired tAvo shots of a 38-caliber revolver into the breast of his Avife, causing instant death. On October 23rd Henry changed his plea from first to second degree murder and Avas by Judge Sutton sen- tenced to imprisonment for life, Avhich sentence he is yet serving. OMAHAMEMORIES 73 CHAPTER XXXI. 1910. The notorious Mabray trial at Council Bluffs attracted world-wide attention. The Mabrays were a gang of race-track swindlers who had so successfully played their game from coast to coast, that they had swindled various sums, aggregating more than a million dollars. It was claimed that this gang was first organized in Omaha, but moved its headquarters to Council Bluffs, from which place it operated. They were apprehended by the federal government for using the United States mails for fraudulent purposes. The trial of the cases were long drawn out, as victims from every state in the Union were witnesses against the gang — resulting in the conviction of thirteen of its most notorious members, including Mabray the leader. All were sentenced to varied terms at the Fort Leavenworth prison. In this gang there appeared to be one man named Mike, whose duty it was to find the victims ; that was the only name he was known by; one victim after another testified that "Mike" got their money, hence a new word was coined as a substitutue for the one, " buncoed, "—that of "Miked." The Nye-Schneider-Fowler Grain and Storage Elevator was destroyed by fire, loss $200,000. July 28th was the hottest in many years, it being 104 in the shade; but one death was reported as a result of sunstroke. The German Saengerfest was held in Omaha ; it was com- posed of the members of that organization of five northwestern states; there being sixty-one societies represented, having a dele- gation of 2,000 singers, making one of the main features in the daylight Ak-Sar-Ben parade of that year. It was this year in which James C. Dahlman, mayor of Omaha, secured the democratic nomination for governor of this state against Shallenberger, the then governor. The campaign was carried on from Omaha, the issue being County Option vs. Local Option. Mr. Aldrich, the candidate on the republican ticket, espoused the cause of county option and was elected, while a majority of the House and Senate were elected on the local option issue. Mayor Dahlman would have been elected were it not that W. J. Bryan threw his powerful influence against him, stumping the state against the head of his own party ticket, an act which Mr. Dahlman had good reason to class as the sting of an ingrate, as the Mayor had been one of Bryan's faithful followers in his many campaigns. George Nattinger, secretary-treasurer of the Omaha Loan and Building Association, died; he was for years secretary of the Omaha Board of Trade, as Avell as one of the original organ- izers and founders of the loan and building association, of which he was an officer from its beginning. 74 OMAHAMEM OKIES CHAPTER XXXII. 1911. Mr. Erdmaii was t'omid guilty of attempting to dynamite the residence of Tom Dennison, on Sherman Avenue. He was prosecuted by James English, county attorney, and defended by John 0. Yeiser. The facts in this ease, as I recall them, were these: Erdnuin was a gambler and gave damaging information against parties in Omaha Avho were engaged in that business in various secluded places. In turn the gamblers were making it very unpleasant for him, and whether he wished to wreak his vengeance on INIr. Dennison or not, I am not in a position to know ; suftice it to say that one Sunday morning, while the Den- nison family were away from home, an infernal machine was placed on their porch, which did not go off. Children playing in the yard claimed to identity Erdman as the party leaving the machine there. Two city detectives, Mitchell and Drummy, im- mediately placed Erdman under arrest, his trial and conviction soon foHowing. He appealed to the supreme court, where the case was reversed and remanded; I do not recall the case ever going on trial again; however, I have seen Erdman on the streets of Omaha a nmuber of times since the supreme court reversed the verdict of the jury that found him guilty. An effort was made to dynamite the new court house ; to that extent two bombs were unsuccessfully used. This was during the structural iron workers' strike, which extended all over the country, and which resulted in the trial and conviction of many members of that union in the United Strifes court at Los Angeles. California, at or about the same time. The damages to the court house did not exceed $10,000; this was owing to the fact that the building had not yet reached the second story. Herman Cohn, owner and proprietor of the Loyal Hotel of Omaha, was shot and instantly killed by a highwayman about 10 o'clock at night while returning to his home in company with his son. Loyal. The murderer was never apprehended. Captain Palmer, ex-postmaster of Omaha and head of the old established insurance firm of H. E. Palmer & Sous, died suddenly at his home. The Nebraska State Senate passed the Grossman Bill, appro- priating $100,000 for the erection of the Nebraska Medical IJni- versity at Omaha. To Senator John Grossman of this city is due tlie credit of securing for Omaha this university. OMAHAMEMORIES 75 CHAPTER XXXIII. 1912. The curfew ordinance was once more put in force, to the great annoyance of youngsters of the city ; it differed, however, in sound and warning to that historic old bell, as it was the shrill sound of a steam whistle. The Mural pictures for the Douglas County Court House were completed and exhibited in the east before being brought here; there were eight canvasses in all, being very handsome and appropriate. The Working Girls' Home won its suit in the supreme court, in which that court upheld the gift of the home as provided in the will of the late Count John A. Creighton. Many of the heirs of the deceased sought to break that provision of the will which set aside about $60,000 for the purpose of founding a Working Girls' Home; the purpose of the heirs being to annul that pro- vision of the will, thereby dividing this sum amongst them. This home is now built, and managed by a Roman Catholic order called "The Little Sisters" and is proving a boon for poor girls out of employment. J. S. Owen of this city was struck by a street car at Fortieth and Hamilton Streets, and was instantly killed; for more than 30 years he was an efficient employee of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Omaha. The Associated Press made Omaha the distrilbuting point for the Trans-Missouri country. The school board of Omaha gave permission to the public to occupy the school buildings evenings for non-religious and non-political meetings. For a number of years the public sought this permission but were denied by a hostile and short-sighted school board ; the matter became an issue in the election of members of the board that year, and I contributed my humble mite through the columns of the papers and at all public meet- ings in an effort to open the schools for the purpose of discuss- ing matters of a local nature, and measures in general in which the public were interested. George W. Doane, former judge of the district court, died of pneumonia December 20th. Thomas Brennan died at the age of 55 years. He came to Omaha in 1885 direct from Ireland, having to flee from that country owing to his activity in Irish affairs, more particularly the Land League agitation of that time. Mr. Brennan was one of the founders of the Land League and was forced to leave Ireland and flee to Paris to save the funds of the organization OMAHA MEMORIES from confiscation, he being its secretary. On his arrival in Omaha he formed a partnership with Dennis Cunningham in the real estate business. During the first year of the existence of the firm I Avas their bookkeeper. At the time of his death he was a member of the firm of Brennan & Love, Edgar Allen, head of the firm of Allen Bros., Avholesale grocers, died. Emil Braudeis, a member of the firm of J. L. Brandeis & Sons, was drowned in the Titanic disaster in April of this year; his body Avas recovered and he was buried in Omaha. Hugo Brandeis, another l)rother of the J. L. Brandeis & Sons company, died in July of that year. The Rei)ublican National Convention was held in Chicago and all eyes were pointed in that direction, owing to the report that but a few votes either way would decide the choice of the convention as between President Taft and ex-President Roose- velt. During the early stage of the convention, or by opening day, excitenu'nt was at fever heat ; l)ulletins were posted on the bulletin board of the Bee building, where hundreds of excited friends of both candidates were assembled eager for the news. It was a source of great i)leasure to many, including myself, to read the bulletins from the building owned by the temporary chairman of the convention, an Omaha boy, Dr. Victor Rose- water, editor of the Bee : this was an honor worthy the greatest man in the nation, more so because of the conditions then exist- ing in the party, coupled with the temper of the convention and til eexceptional length of time that he was forced to preside. Chief of Police John J. Donahue died in August. He was one of the most capable officers that ever served on the police force of this city, having filled different offices in the depart- ment with honor and credit, attaining this high office in 1900, serving at times through a perilous siege of attacks from pious frauds. The Woodmen of the World Building was dedicated in October of that year: it is a sixteen-story fireproof building and is the headquarters of the order. Daniel Wheeler died of paralysis, at the age of 76 : he served about ten years in the Onuiha City Council and was during most of that tinu^ chairuuin of its finance committee, and became generally kiu>wn as the "watchdog of the treasury." It was my pleasure to have served in that body with him, a part of which time I was on the finance committee, and of him I must say that the title, "Watchdog of the Treasury," was justly due him. I never met a nuire painstaking public servant, nor one more conversant with the city's finances than he. and a more fatherly and lovable num never lived. OMAHA MEMORIES J. J. Deright, head of the Deright Safe Company and later an antoiuobile company of that name, met his death by the acci- dental discharge of a shot-gun. CHAPTER XXXIV. 19ia The Dewey Hotel, a four-story brick, on the corner of Thir- teenth and Farnam Streets, was destroyed by fire. There were several lives lost and nianv persons injured ; the loss was placed at $200,000. The Omaha High School was formally dedicated. Edward E. Black, for more than 50 years a resident of this city, died in March at the age of 69 years. He was the farlier of Edward Black of Omaha, a well knoAvn newspaper man now employed on the Omaha Bee. In March of this year Omaha was visited by a territie tornado, resulting in 185 deaths and hundreds of people injured, and a property loss of $1,000,000, details of which 'are given in another separate article in this book. Officer Cunningham was wounded by a negro in the base- ment of Ed Maurer's restaurant; the officer shot and instantly killed his assailant. Mr. Cunningham has fully recovered and is now on the detective force. Officer Ferris, who, with Cunning- ham, made the arrest, was also shot but not seriously injured. The greatest Italian demonstration ever held in the west took place here in Omaha on Columbus Day, it being the 421st anniversary of the landing of Columbus. There were 3,000 people in the parade with five bands. A serious street car accident occurred on Twenty-fourth and Ames Avenue, in which twenty people were injured. Two new buildings were added to the School for the Deaf at Omaha. Carl Hans Lody contested the suit of his wife, Louise Storz- Lody, for a divorce. Lody will be remembered as the man who, in 1915, was executed in the tower of London, having been con- victed as a German spy. Frank Riley, a young man employed at the post office, Avas drowned in Carter Lake; he was the son of Bernard Riley, born and raised in this city, and was loved by all who knew him. CHAPTER XXXV. 1914. Henry Yates celebrated his seventy-sixth birthday by keep- ing open house to all of his friends. OMAHA MEMORIES The Charity Ball was a social and financial success; the sum of $3,650 was turned over to Miss Magee, head of the City Mission. Melba and Kubelik appeared before one of the largest audi- ences ever convened in the Auditorium. One of the most daring and brazen holdups that ever took place in Omaha was that at the place of residence of Hazel McVey, a resort of ill-repute at Fifteenth and Chicago Streets. Three bandits entered the house about 11 o'clock at night and cut the 'phone wires; one locked the landlady in the kitchen, robbed her of her diamonds, while the other tAvo commanded all the inmates to throw up their hands and submit to a frisk. A young man named Nichols, failing to comply with orders, was shot and instantly killed. The bandits were all apprehended, having been located in different states, were brought back, tried and given sentences of imprisonment for life. In this place were some of Omaha's most prominent citizens who, by one pretense after another, managed not to have their identity known. As a result of the McVey robbery, John Ryder, who was in charge of the police department, offered his resignation, but a com- promise was reached, whereby Commissioner Kugel was given the police department and Ryder that of street repairs. A duplicate building of the Clarkson Hospital was built on the west side of the old building at a cost of $80,000. Judge William Altstadt died of heart failure at the age of 76 years; he was justice of the peace in Omaha for twelve years, and was such at the time of his death. He was a short, bulky, witty German, and was familiarly known as "Little Bismarck." His justice office was for years adjoining my office in the Paxton Block, and many are the occasions when I evidenced his unique way of arriving at and rendering his judgments — they had no parallel in all jurisprudence. Mr. D. Clem Deaver died in February, at the age of 50 years. He was born in Ohio and came to Nebraska when a young man, and to Omaha in 1887. He was one of the founders of the }iopulist party and was prominent in it up to the time they affiliated with the democratic party in 1900 ; he was chairman of its national committee and two terms chairman of the state cen- tral committee; was its candidate for congress from this district in 1892 and steward at the Deaf Institute at Omaha for four years. He supported President McKinley in 1900 and was appointed by him receiver of the land office at O'Neill, Nebraska, and was reappointed by President Roosevelt in 1907. after which he resigned to accept the office of land and colonization agent for the B. & M. railroad, which position he held at the time of his death. Mr. Deaver was the soul of honor, loyal to his God, his family, his country and his friends. OMAHAMEMORIES 79 Boyd's old theatre was sold to Biirgess-Nash & Company, to make room for their growing trade; the price was $245,000. Many of the greatest actors and actresses of the day have appeared in that theatre. May 10th was designated by proclamation of the President as Mother's Day, ■ In Jnne a day was assigned by the school board as Play Day, and 5,000 children took part in the exercises at Fort Omaha. T-he day being exceedingly hot, there were a number of prostra- tions, some of which were serious, so tliey decided to have no more exercises of that kind. There were 30,000 spectators present on that occasion. Four persons were killed when a train hit an auto on the West Center road; this is a dangerous crossing and there have been several such accidents there. Ralph Connell, son of W. J. Connell of this city, was shot and killed on a ranch in New Mexico; he was an Omaha boy — born, raised and educated in this city, and was married to an Omaha girl before leaving for his ranch in Mexico. Mrs. George Tilden died at the age of 61 years ; the deceased was the wife of Dr. George Tilden. Both of them were Omaha pioneers. Mrs. Tilden was prominent in all matters of benev- olent and charitable work, and a leader in the women's clubs. CHAPTER XXXVI. 1915. Henry W. Yates died at the age of 77. He was one of Omaha's pioneers, and one of the leading financiers of the United States. In the presidential campaign of 1896 he contributed as much as any one man of that time to the literature and logic that resulted in the crushing defeat of the Free Silver fallacy then advocated by W. J. Bryan and his followers. Mr. Yates followed the banking business from his youth, organized the Nebraska National Bank of Omaha, of which he was president from its starting in 1881, to the time of his death. Major T. S. Clarkson died in Oregon and his body was brought to Omaha for burial. He was postmaster of this city from October 1, 1890, to February 12, 1895 ; was a pioneer citizen of Omaha and served one terra as national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Judge A. L. Sutton resigned from the office of judge of the District Court of Douglas County, having served in that capacity for a continuous period of twelve years. 80 OMAHA MEMORIES Omaha was struck with the jitney fever ; so great was the malady that it soon developed into an epidemic. The jitney was a new thing here, and the novelty as well as the pleasure of riding a considerable distance in an auto for five cents was a treat. They were unrestricted and unhampered by legislation and police i-egulation, because of their sudden and unexpected advent as a mode of transportation and travel. They soon became so numerous that they were a nuisance— so much, so that the city council was forced to pass an ordinance reg-ulating them. No sooner had they become regulated than they became relegated, so that in the latter part of this year there remains but one direct line in which they operate, from Fourteenth to Fortieth and Farnam. The poor jitney, I fear, will soon be as rare a sight as a red Indian on Staten Island. Mrs. Samuel Rees, Sr., died. She was one of Omaha's pio- neers. For more than 40 years the home of the Rees family has been located on the corner of Twenty-second and Leavenworth Streets, where Samuel Rees, the husband, and his son Samuel, Jr., yet reside. The $1,000,000 Fontenelle Hotel opened in February with a banquet, at which were about one thousand of Omaha's most prominent men and women; Gurdon W. Wattles was toastmaster on the occasion. The hotel is located on the corner of Eighteenth and Douglas Streets, a twelve-story brick building, on ground 132 feet square, with accommodations eciual to any hotel in the United States. To the public spirit of Mr. Wattles, president of the hotel company, is due in a great measure the credit of having such a magnificent hotel here. W. H. Smith, cashier of the Woodmen of the World, Avas shot and killed near Bemis Park b-y a footpad, who made his escape, but Avas apprehened at Topeka, Kansas, was brought to Omaha, tried and convicted of murder in the second degree and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Tom Ring, one of Omaha's efficient detectives, Avas shot and instantly killed by a Mexican, Avho made his escape, but Avas caught at Norfolk, Nebraska, after many days' hunt and a hard fight for his freedom by the murderer. He Avas brought to Omaha for trial and was defended by ex-Judge Sutton and prosecuted by Countey Attorney George A. Maguey ; Avas found guilty of second degree murder and given life imprisonment. George Shirley and Avife Avere asphyxiated by gas from a defective heater. Mr. Shirley Avas the son of one of Omaha's pioneer citizens, Michael Shirley, of the contracting firm of Phelan & Shirley. Tag Day netted $3,348 for the Visiting Nurses' fund, being the most ever raised by like means in this city. OMAHAMEMORIES 81 The year 1915 was the banner year in the history of Ne- braska, for both rain and crops; there were but two months — April and October — of the entire year that it did not rain, either at night or during the day. The months of April and October were two of the most pleasant ones I have observed in my thirty- five .years' residence in Omaha. I am pleased to note the con- trast between the year 1880, when I came here, and that of 1915 ; the first named was one of intense heat, scarcely any rain, with dry hot winds and discouraging prospects for farmers — light crops and but small returns. While that of 1915 was diametric- ally reverse ; plenty of rain, abundant crops, eager purchasers, a ready market and handsome returns, with the demand greater than the supply; giving evidence of the fact that a benign Providence is fast showering its blessings on the people of this, the best state in the Union, for which we should in turn offer our fervent prayers and thanksgiving. CHAPTER XXXVII. 1916. At first it was not my intention to include the year 1916 in this work, but owing to unavoidable delays I was unable to com- plete this book until the middle of this year; and finding so many events of importance had taken place during that portion of the year I deemed it advisable to enumerate and include in this work the year ''1916." In doing this it will necessitate some reference to men of whom I have written and who died during this year, as well as many changes that have taken place since 1915 — or during the following year, in both men and affairs. In this connection I note with much regret the death of James P. English, one of the judges of our district court, who died on February 20th, and Avas beloved by all who knew him. Also John Power, who served. Douglas county as sheriff for six years, and was known as one of the best sheriffs who ever filled this office; he died January 7th. Right Rev. Richard Seannell, who for twenty-five years was Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Omaha, and of whom it may be said there was no more saintly or scholarly man in the state, died January 8th. His funeral sermon w^as pronounced by Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul, Minnesota, and was a gem of eloquence and pathos. On May 21st, John C. Drexel, one of the commissioners of this city, died ; during his life he was county coroner, sheriff and county clerk, respectively, of Douglas County, and was deserv- edly popular. He was born in this countj^ in 1858. This being the year in wiiich the sun in its quadrennial and biennial march around the world pointed the dial of time to 82 OMAHA MEMORIES that period where it became necessary for the American people to elect their national, state and connty officers. It is doubtful whether the history of- this nation furnishes a parallel in interest and excitement equal to that shown in the national campaign of this year. That Wilson and Marshall would be renominated for president and vice-president, respectively, was a foregone conclusion, but with the republican party there were many candi- dates, and not until after the convening of the national conven- tion of republicans at Chicago, was there any certainty of the ones to be selected. In this state the friends of Charles E. Hughes were active in his behalf; Victor Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee, was his ablest supporter and champion, but Senator Cummins of Iowa carried the delegation, while ex-Senator Burkett of this state secured the delegation for vice-president. During the entire week of the national convention at Chicago, commencing as it did June 2nd, excitement ran high on our streets and never subsided until June 10th, the day on Avhicli Hughes and Fair- banks received tlie nomination for president and vice-president, respectively, which selection met with enthusiastic approbation. For United States senator from this state at the primary, John L. Kennedy of Omaha and ex-Governor Aldrich, of Lincoln, were the candidates for the republican nomination, Kennedy securing it. On the democratic ticket for this office the present Uniter States Senator G. M. Hitchcock of Omaha and I. J. Dunn, an Omaha attorney, were the candidates. Mr. Hitchcock received the nomination, tliough bitterly fought by W. J. Bryan. For governor of this state A. L. Sutton of Omaha, ex-judge of the district court, received the republican nomination, and on the democratic ticket for this office; Keith Neville of North Platte and Charles W. Bryan of Lincoln, brother of W. J. Bryan, were the candidates. Mr. Neville was nominated. The primary of this year was held in the month of April, which served the purpose of nominating national, state and county candidates. June 14th was, by proclamation of the governor and Mayor Dahlman of Onmha. declared Flag Day and a holiday. It was estimated that 30,000 men, women and children marched and paraded our streets on that day, all carrying an American flag. This occasion was for the purpose of arousing the patriotism of the American people, of which I could see no apparent need. The Fourth of July brought thousands of people to Omaha from all over this and adjoining states, not with any patriotic purpose, however, but to witness a widely advertised Avrestling match at the Fair Grounds near Benson, between Joe Steelier of this state, champion wrestler of the Avorld, and a man named Lewis. Not less than 10.000 people Avitnessed this gigantic farce, which partook more of the appearance of a footrace than that OMAHAMEMORIES 83 of a wrestling match, as the participants at no time during the five hours' struggle engaged in wrestling, to the disgust and dis- appointment of those who paid to- witness what they thought would be a match of national fame. The year 1916 being the bi-eentennial of the admission of this state into the Union, the event was befittingly celebrated, as in the early part of the year an organization was perfected, composed of the leading men of the state, who designated Omaha as the place in which the celebration should take place, the time being from the 1st to the 10th of October. G. W. Wattles was chairman of the organization, which in itself warranted the suc- cess of the undertaking. This celebration was held jointly with that of the annual festivity of the Ak-Sar-Ben. It was during this time, on October 5th, that President and Mrs. Wilson visited Omaha, as the invited guests of the two organizations. An historic parade was one of the events of that day in which the President and Mrs. Wilson participated, being in the lead in an automobile. Leaving it when they reached the court house, and entering a grand stand which was erected there, they, their party and a number of prominent citizens, reviewed the parade, which was more than two miles long, and included about 500 Indians from the various reservations. The president and wife expressed themselves as being delighted with the great ovation given them, as well as the opportunity of seeing for themselves a sample of western pioneer life, from which sprang the marvelous progress of the West of today. Omaha, on this occasion, entertained the largest crowd ever assembled in any western city, there being approximately 300,000 visitors. In the evening the president addressed the greatest number of people ever crowded into the Auditorium, after which he and his party returned directly to Washington. Since writing my article in a previous chapter on Omaha's progress, some new and costly buildings have been erected, and others are in course of construction. I will note the ones on Farnam Street — the World-Herald building on Fifteenth Street, on the old corner well known to the early settlers as the "Wabash Corner." It is erected on a full city lot with one storeroom fac- ing Farnam and three more on Fifteenth Street, on the north end. The building is eight stories high with basement, which is used as the press room, extending the entire length of the build- ing. The second and third floors are occupied by the company for its own use, and the others are rented for offices. The build- ing is a very imposing edifice, a credit to Omaha and a lasting monument to the energy, grit and persistency of our present United States Senator, G. M. Hitchcock, the founder of the World-IIerald and its principal owner. The First National Bank of Omaha has completed and is preparing to occupy its new sixteen-story and basement building, 84 OMAHAMEM OKIES erected on the southwest corner of Sixteenth and Farnam, on the ground formerly occupied by the old Board of Trade build- ing. It stands on a full city lot ; the ground floor has store rooms on both Sixteenth and Farnam Streets, the first floor being used by the bank itself, the others rented for offices. The northeast corner of Eighteenth and Douglas Streets, where the Strand Theater is located, has been purchased by the Omaha Athletic Club, a recent corporation. This building is soon to give way to a magnificent one which is to cost about $300,000 and will be one of the finest in the west owned by any athletic club. W. A. Frazer, Sovereign Commander of the Woodmen of the World, is president, and John C. Wharton, late postmaster of Omaha, is secretary'. The Nebraska Telephone Company has purchased the north- west corner of Nineteenth and Douglas Streets, the old Dr. Tilden home, at a cost of $100,000, and has plans ready for the con- struction of a million-dollar building from Avliich they will oper- ate their netAvork of wires for the entire city. The ^Masonic building, at Nineteenth and Douglas Streets, now in course of construction, promises to be one of the finest of its kind in the west ; the estimate cost of this magnificent structure will be in the neighborhood of $1,000,000. On October 16th, Charles E. Hughes, republican candidate for president, delivered an address at the Omaha Auditorium to a house so densely packed that further admission was a phy- sical impossibility. While the building is the most spacious of any west of Chicago, it is claimed that on this occasion fully 10,000 people were unable to gain admission. I had the pleasure of occupying a seat on the stage a few feet from this great man, and shall long remember his telling blows against the dem- ocratic party. As previously stated, the political issue in this state assumed fever heat. Campaigners of more or less fame were numerous in battling for the success of their respective parties. In point of interest and excitement it bore a striking resemblance to the McKinley-Bryan campaign of 1896. As the campaign'progressed, party lines Avere not so closely drawn, as a local issue had been injected into the campaign which resulted disastrously for the republican party — national, state and county. The issue injected was the prohibition question, or the amendment to the State Con- stitution prohibiting the manufacturing or sale of intoxicating liquors in this state. Neither party made it a platform issue, but the most remark- able part of it was the republican candidate for United States Senator, John L. Kennedy, and Judge A. L. Sutton, the repub- lican candidate for governor, both espoused the cause of pro- OMAHAMEMORIES 85 hibition and both were defeated, yet the amendment was carried by 30,000 majority. President Wilson carried the state by 41,000. United States Senator Hitchcock was returned to the senate by 12,000 majority and Keith Neville, also a democrat, defeated his .republican opponent by 10,000 votes, and for the first time in the history of the state all the state offices were filled by democrats. In this congressional district the present incum- bent, C. 0. Lobeck, defeated his republican opponent. Judge Benjamin Baker, by the unheard of majoritj^ of 6,000 votes. On the county ticket the republicans elected but three men, Robert Smith succeeding himself as clerk of the District Court, Frank Dewey also succeeding himself as county clerk, both repub- licans. Mike Clark, republican, defeated Phil McShane, the pres- ent incumbent of the office of sheriff, a democrat. Two repub- lican county commissioners were defeated for re-election — Gus Heart and Frank Best, their successors being Jeff Bedford and A. D. Compton, giving the democrats control of the board of county commissioners for the first time in years. For the second time in the history of the county, the democrats elected a county superintendent of schools, T. J. Keenan, a recent graduate of Creighton College. M. L. Endres, democrat, was elected county treasurer, defeating E. G. Saloman, republican. George A. Mag- uey, democrat, and one of the most obliging, capable and com- petent men who ever filled public office, was re-elected county attorney by 10,000 majority. The present judges of the District Court, Willis G. Sears, Lee Estelle, A. C. Troup, William A. Redick, George A. Day, Charles Leslie and Arthur AVakely, were re-elected. It will be remembered that Judge Wakely was filling a vacancy caused by the death of Judge English. This appointment was made by Governor Moorhead March 1 of this year. Bryce Crawford was re-elected county judge for the third consecutive time. Lou Adams was re-elected as county surveyor. It is with much pleasure that I note the appointment of J. W. Woodrough of Omaha to the office of United States Dis- trict Judge of this district. He was appointed to this office April 3 by President Wilson, was confirmed by the senate a few days thereafter, taking his seat April 24, succeeding the late W. H. Munger, who was appointed by President Cleveland March 1, 1897 — being his last official act. Mr. Woodrough is one of the youngest judges on the federal bench, and is proving himself in every way equal to the task reposed in him. He is a man of charming personality, courteous and accommodating. A brief biography of him will be found in another chapter of this book. On June 1, George Parks of the South Side was appointed by the city commissioners to fill the vacancy on that board caused by the death of John C. Drexel. He was given the department formerly held by Mr. Drexel, superintendent of street cleaning 86 OMAHAMEMORIES and maintenance. ]\Ir, Parks was for a number of years engaged in the paving business in South Omaha, is a practical business man and has displayed marked ability in handling his depart- ment. He is a man of means and does not believe that a public office is a private snap. In October the city commissioners entered into a contract with the Omaha Electric Light Company, which contract was in the form of an ordinance, in which the Electric Light Company was to be given and granted a five-year contract for lighting the city, conditioned that the company, would install 1,000 addi- tional arc lights free and reduce its price to consumers to 6 cents per kilowatt hour. In order to forestall the action of the com- missioners, petitions were circulated by R. B. Howell and others, calling for a referendum vote of the people on the ordinance. A sufficient number of signers were secured and an election was held on December 4, at which the ordinance or contract was ratified by a substantial majority vote of the people, thus assur- ing the commissioners of the confidence they have in them, as Avell as a token of the friendly relationship which the many acts of the president of the Electric Light Company, General G. H. Harries, has been the cause of establishing between the people and his company. The passage and approval of this ordinance by the commissioners and the voters will make Omaha one of the best lighted cities in the United States and will give the con- sumers a rate cheaper than can be procured by a municipally OAvned plant. In the early part of this year the Ford Automobile Company located a branch of its extensive plant in Omaha, a building six stories high, embracing and covering one cit}' block, from Fif- teenth to Sixteenth and Webster to Izard Streets. Hundreds of automobiles of this make are assembled at this plant each month, with a working force of some 300 men. This company paj's the highest wages of any in the United States to its employees. On May 1, 1917, the State of Nebraska will be placed in the column of prohibition states, as the result of the verdict of the people of this state in the November election of this year. In an article written by me in 1915, which can be found in another chapter of this book under the heading "The Prohibition Ques- tion," will show the causes that led up to the submission of this question. As to how rigid this law will be made and the machinery through which it is to be enforced, will be a matter for the coming legislature to devise. If a liberal supply of liquor is permitted to be brought into the state for domestic use, then the law may accomplish its purpose. Should a "bone-dr.y" law be passed, its repeal would be only a matter of opportunity. On December 15. Archbishop Jeremiah J, Harty arrived in Omaha from the Philippine Islands. He was met at Columbus, OMAHAMEMORIES 87 Nebraska, by a delegation of prominent citizens headed by Mayor Dahlman of this city. A special train was chartered for the occasion. On December 21 he was installed as bishop of the Omaha Diocese at the new cathedral in this city. The occasion was one of the most ceremonious ever witnessed in this state. Archbishop Harty was, previous to coming to Omaha, Archbishop of the Philippine Islands, where for thirteen years he ruled the archdiocese of Manila. His see extended over the largest territory and contained the greatest number of Catholics of any archdiocese of the Roman Catholic church. From the impres- sions formed by many of our citizens who have met the archbishop and from his public expressions it is freely predicted that he will make one of the most popular and beloved bishops who have filled that exalted position during the sixty years of the existence of the diocese. His predecessors were the saintly 'Gorman, O'Connor and Scannell. At the November election James M. Fitzgerald and R. J. Madden were elected police judges for the city of Omaha on the democratic ticket, defeating the present incumbents, Charles E. Foster and J. C. Reed, republicans. The two judges are men of broad vision and even, judicial temperament, qualifica- tions the possession of which the retiring j"udge, Foster, was sadly deficient. On December 25 my son, Charles Bryan, received as a Christmas gift from the Catholic University of America at Wash- ington, D. C, a scholarship comprising a four-year course at that institution free of charge. This honor came without solici- tation and is the first of its kind to be conferred on any boy west of the Missouri River. It was given to him personally by one of the faculty, the Rev. John 'Grady, formerly of this city, who came to Omaha in person for that sole purpose. He received offers of scholarships from several other large colleges in the United States, but accepted this as being the most advan- tageous to the course he intends to jiursue, that of law. He will go to Washington to enter upon his study in September, 1917, after graduating from the Central High School the preceding year. This 3^ear the city commissioners awarded a contract to remodel our City Hall at an expense of some $50,000. Some of it is being expended in making the basement of the building an office floor, adding an additional floor to the other six, and will give access to the building level with the sidewalk, dispensing with the many steps that had led to the original first floor. This expenditure would never have been needed had a majority of the city council coincided with me when that building was in course of construction. I was a member of the council at that time, and I persistently fought for what is now being done. In addi- tion it was my purpose to make this floor the city jail and 88 OMAHAMEMORIES police headquarters, but I was ridiculed and derided by my associates, notably Chafifee, Bechtel, Wheeler and Davis. I pre- sume this is but another sample of foresight and hindsight. On May 18 George Rogers died. He was for a number of years engaged in the wholesale and retail cigar business in Omaha. He resided in the cit.y for the past thirty years and was a prominent democrat of both the city and state ; was a member of the governor's staflf and a candidate for sheriff on the democratic ticket at the recent primary. ]\Ir. Rogers was one of nature 's noblemen ; his friends were legion, with not a de- serving enemy. Hugh Murphy, one of Omaha 's wealthy and honored citizens, died Atugust 8. He came to Omaha in 1880 from Galena, 111., where he was born sixty-four years ago ; was a bricklayer by profession, but shortly after arriving here he engaged in the paving contracting business, in which he was engaged at the time of his death. He was by nature adapted to the business which he for j-^ears carried on, and through which he became im- mensely wealthy. He was big-hearted, frank and generous. IMr. Murphy and myself were warm personal friends, a friendship which began in August, 1880, when he and I were roommates, and which continued during his lifetime. In a previous chapter of these ]\Iemories I had occasion to note a spirit of bigotry and intolerance Avhich swept over this city in the early '90s, fed and nurtured by an order known as the A. P. A. As that organization flourished and faded away, it was hoped that such a blight would never again affect a homoge- neous community. But this ghost, robed in a sheet of muslin, began to stalk. It was not Banco 's ghost, nor would it down; it was the ghost of the Pope of Rome having a sinister motive, namely the destruction of our republic, through the aid of the Roman Catholic Church. The new uprising sailed and masked under a new name, that of the Knights of Luther, having the same object and purpose as that of the old A. P. A. 's, the memory of which would make the cheeks of the sons of the latter tingle with the blush of shame to know that their fathers were ever affiliated with it. On the eve of the election the old-time pink ticket made its appearance on the streets with instructions how and for whom to vote. The candidates Avho were Roman Cath- olics or Catholic sympathizers were marked in bold black type so as to warn the voter. Notwithstanding their contemptible work, every candidate so marked was elected with few exceptions. Andrew ]\Iorrissey, candidate for supreme judge, and Judge Lee S. Estelle, candidate for district judge, both Roman Catholics, were both marked for defeat, but were both elected by big majorities. In this work I have sought to be fair and impartial to all men and to all religious denominations, but when a body of men OMAHA MEMORIES 89 claiming to be loyal American citizens will band together for such an unjust and uncalled for attack upon the patriotism and loyalty of the Roman Catholic citizens of this community, more especially when our nation is likely at any hour to call upon her citizens to defend her flag against the encroachment of a foreign foe, I feel that such conduct should not go unchallei^ged. For if that conflict should arise I know of no better and truer way of expressing not only my own love and veneration for that flag, but that of every other Catholic in this nation, should our loyalty to this nation, for which we have shed our blood on every battlefield in its defense from Yorktown to Appomat- tax, be brought into question than in the following few chosen lines : They say I do not love thee Flag of my native land, Whose meteor folds above me To the free breeze expand; Thy broad stripes proudly streaming, And thy stars so brightly beaming. They say I would forsake thee, Should some dark crisis lower; That recreant I would make thee Couch to a foreign power; Seduced by license ample, On the best flag to trample. False are the words they utter. Ungenerous their brand, And rash the oaths they mutter. Flag of my native land; While still in hope above me There wavest — and I love thee. They say that bolts of thunder. Hurled by the Pontiff's hand. May rive and bring thee under. Flag of my native land; And with one blow dissever My heart from thee forever. God is my love's first duty. To whose eternal name Be praise for all thy beauty, Thy grandeur and thy fame, ^ But ever have I reckoned Thine native flag its second. Woe to the foe or stranger Whose sacrilegious hand Would touch thee or endanger, Flag of my native land; Though some should fain discard thee. Mine should be raised to guard thee. Then wave, thou first of banners. And in thy genial shade Let creeds, opinions, manners, In love and peace be laid; And there all discord ended. Our hearts and souls be blended. 90 OMAHAMEM OKIES Steam on, steam on before us, Thou labarum of light. While in one genial chorus Our vows to thee we plight; Unfaithful to thee, never! My country's flag forever. At the fall election the following named municipal judges were elected : C. W. Britt, A. E. Baldwin and George Holmes. They were the first elected judges to this newly created office. They have co-jurisdiction with that of the County Court, and have removed from the public the much detested justice of the peace court. On December 10, George P. Bemis, ex-mayor of Omaha, died. He was twice elected mayor of Omaha. His election and admin- istration is fully set forth in another chapter of this book. INIr. Bemis. though a lifelong Protestant, became a convert to the Catholic church but a few daj's before his death. In this work I have endeavored to note most of the impor- tant events that have taken place in Omaha during my residence here of thirty-six years. I am proud of Omaha. I love the state of Nebraska and its people, I love the West because of the broad- mindedness of its men and women. In this connection it might be asked: Where does the West begin? The following will suffice for the answer: Where there's more of reaping and less of sowing — Out where the handclasp's a little stronger, Out where the smile dwells a little longer, That's where the West begins. Out where the sun is a little brighter, Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter, Where the bonds of home are wee bit tighter — That's where the West begins. Out where the skies are a trifle bluer, Out where friendship's a little truer, Where there's laughter in every streamlet flowing, That's where the West begins. Out where a fresher breeze is blowing, Where there's more of reaping and less of sowing — That's where the West begins. Out where the world is in the making, Where fewer hearts in despair are aching, That's where the West begins. Where there's more of singing and less of sighing, Where there's more of giving and less of buying. And a man makes friends without half trying — That's where the West begins. OMAHA MEMORIES 91 CHAPTER XXXVIII. OMAHA CHURCHES AND THEIR PASTORS. Presbyterian. Lowe Avenue, 1023 North Fortieth— Rev. A. F. Ernst. First, Y. M. C. A.— Rev. E. H. Jenks. North, Twenty-fourth and AVirt — Rev. M. V. Higbee. Parkvale, Twenty-first and Gold — Rev. R. W. Taylor. Castellar, Sixteenth and Castellar — Rev. C. C. Meeks. * Clifton Hill, Forty-fifth and Grant — Rev. B. R. von der Lippe. Dundee, Fiftieth and Underwood— Rev. H. B. Foster. Methodist. Trinity, Twentj^-first and Binney — Rev. C. W. DeLamatre. Swedish, Nineteenth and Burt — Rev. Gustav Erickson. ]\rcCabe, Forty-first and Farnam — Rev. "W. H. Underwood. Hanscom Park, Woolworth and Georgia Ave. — Rev. E. D. Hull. First, Twentieth and Davenport — Rev. Titus Lo\v'e. Baptist. Calvary, Twenty-fifth and Hamilton — J. A. IMaxwell. Immanuel, Twentj^-fourth and Pinkney — A. J. ]\Iorris, Grace, Tenth and Arbor— Rev. E. B. Taft. Lutheran. Danish, Twenty-sixth and Hamilton — Rev. M. W. Halverson. Grace English, Twenty-sixth and Poppleton — Rev, C. N. Swihart. St. Mathew's English, Nineteenth and Castellar — Rev. G. W. Sny- der. Ziou, Thirty-sixth and Lafayette Ave. — Rev. A. T. Lorimer. Kountze Memorial, Twentj^-sixth and Farnam — Rev. 0. D. Baltzly. Episcopal. St. Andrew's, Twenty-fourth and Charles — Rev. J. E. Flockhart. Dietz JMemorial, Tenth and Pierce — Rev. C. N. Dawson. All Saints, 504 South Twenty-sixth— Rev. T. J. Mackay. Good Shepherd, Twentieth and Ohio — Rev. T. J. Collar. St. Barnabas', Fortieth and Davenport — Rev. Lloyd Halsapple. St. John's, Twenty-fifth and Brown — Rev. O. H. Cleveland. St. Martin's, Twenty-fourth and J — Rev. John Wallis. St. Mathias', Tenth 'and Worthington— Rev. A. E. Wells. St. Philip's the Deacon, 1121 North Twenty-first— Rev. J. A. Williams. Trinity Cathedral, Eighteenth and Capitol Ave. — Rev. J, A. Tancock. Christian Science. Second Church, Dundee Hall. First, Twenty-fourth and St. Mary's Ave. 92 M A H A M E M R I E S United Evangelical. Grace, Twenty-seventh and Camden — Rev. T. M. Evans. Congregational. St. ]\[ary's Avenue — Twenty-seventh and St. Mary's Ave. — Eev. A. J. Hurlburt. Plymouth, Eighteenth and Emmet — Rev. F. AY. Leavitt. United Presbyterian. Central, Twentj'-fourth and Dodge — Rev. H. B. Speer. Latter Day Saints. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, Twentj'-fourth and Ohio. Unitarian. Unitarian, Turpin Hall, Twenty-eighth and Farnam — Rev. AY. F. Greenman. Christian. North Side, Twenty-second and Lothrop — Rev. G. L. Peters. First, Twenty-sixth and Harney — R«v. C. E. Cobbey. Miscellaneous. People's Church, 5,15 North Eighteenth — Rev. Charles Savage. Church of Life, 815 North Eighteenth— Mrs. V. A. Bell. Roman Catholic. Diocese of Omalia — Rt. Rev. Jeremiah J. Ilarty, Bishop ; Rt. Rev. jMousignor Colaneri, V. G. St. Cecilia's Cathedral, 705 North Fortieth— Rev. D. P. Harring- ton, Rev. AYm. Fitzgerald, Rev. J. Timothy and Rev. Hugh Gatelly. Church of the Assumption, 5440 South Twenty-second — Rev. flames Chundalak. Holy Angels, Twenty-eighth and Fowler — Rev. P. A. Flannagan. Sacred Heart, Twenty-second and Binney — Rev. P. J. Judge. Rev. C. Collins. Holy Family, 917 North Eighteenth— Rev. S. L. Dowd, Rev. P. J. Moran. St. Agnes', 2211 Q Street— Rev. Jas. Aherne, Rev. John Zaplotnik. Immaculate Conception, Twenty-fourth and Bancroft — Rev. Tb^o- bald Kalampa. St. Bri Jget's, Twenty-sixth and F— Rev. T. 'Callahan, Rev. \\'m. Borer, Rev. D. Feahon. St. Francis', 4501 South Thirty-second— Rev. Alichael Gluba. St. John's, 2506 California— Rev. M. M. Brongeest. St. Anthony's (Lithuanian) Thirty-second and S — Rev. George F. Jonaitis. St. Joseph's (German), 1730 South Seventeenth — Rev. Pacifiens Kohnen. OMAHAMEMORIES 93 St. Mary Magdalen (German), Nineteenth and Dodge — Rev. Ber- nard Sinne. St. Mary's, Thirty-sixth and — Rev. Charles Mugan, Rev. John Hallian. St. Patrick's, Fourteenth and Castellar — Rev. Peter Gannon, Rev. Edw. Flannigan. St. Peter's, Twenty-eighth and Leavenworth — Rev. J. F. Mc- Carthy, Rev. D. P. Neligan, Rev. Patrick Kelley. St, Philomena's, Tenth and William — Rev. J. W. Stenson, Rev. Michael Stagno. St. Savior, 1470 South Thirteenth— Rev. Elias Abboud. St. Wenceslaus', 1432 South Twelfth— Rev. John Vranek. OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY. The Omaha Public Library had its beginning in 1871, and was located on the third floor of the old L. B, Williams dry goods store, Fifteenth and Douglas Streets, where now stands the Union Pacific headquarters. Its tirst board consisted of Edgar Snyder, Albert Henry and Nathan Swartzlander. A Miss Sears was its first librarian, and a small sum was charged each patron, the city paying the running expenses. In 1885 it was moved to the Falconer building, 1505 Douglas Street, where it remained for three years. In 1888 it again moved to the Pax- ton Block, Sixteenth and Farnam, where ifremained until 1893, when it moved to its present spacious quarters, a three story and basement building erected on a full corner lot donated by Byron Reed on the southeast corner of Eighteenth and Harney Streets, built and owned by the city. On entering the new quarters Byron Reed bequeathed to the library his own exten- sive library and his collections of curios and coins, one of the most valuable collections of rare coins to be found in the United States. The city bought the adjoining lot, giving it a greater amount of needed space. The library at present contains 94,000 volumes, and is one of the best kept and managed of any in the United States. The librarians who have served in my time are Miss Allen and the present one. Miss Edith Tabot, under whose efficient management the library has attained a wide reputation. OMAHA HIGH SCHOOL. The building and grounds of the High School have for me cherished memories. The entrances that yet lead to it are the ones over which my wife traveled in her girlhood days while attending that school ; the ones which my daughter trod, and which my son, "Chuck," is now treading. In the secluded cor- ners of the old building, as well as its numerous steps, I was wont to spend many a pleasant summer evening in the early '80s. Knowing the dark condition of the grounds at night, one of 94 OMAHA MEMORIES the first resolutions that I introduced M'hile in the city council provided for electric lights for the grounds. The present High School cost $1,5,00,000, wings being added to the old one until there was room enough without it, and it was torn down. The old High School Avas formerly the State Capitol in the territorial days of Nebraska. The new school and grounds are among the finest in the Ihiited States. There are 81 teachers and a daily average of about 2,000 pupils. The present management is in charge of the following very efficient staff: J, Gr, Masters, prin- cipal ; Joseph Woolery, first vice-president ; E. E. McWilliams, second vice-president. OMAHA HIGH SCHOOL OF COMMERCE. The establishment of a practical business course in the Cen- tral High School proved so successful that it became necessary to make more adequate provisions to care for this popular line of work, and the Omaha High School of Commerce was started in September of 1912, amid a clamor of discord that is always present when a ncAv plan is started ; but the feeling of doubt soon disappeared, for the establishing of this school is one of the most praiseworthy acts in the history of the Board of Edu- cation of this city, and much credit must be given to Dr. Holovtchiner for his efforts in starting such a school, as it enables parents of moderatc'^means to secure for their children a business education without additional expense. There are about 1,000 pupils enrolled at present. In addition to thorough training in such branches as business. English, shorthand and typewriting, bookkeeping, rapid calculation, commerce and industry, penman- ship, advertising salesmanship, etc., the pupils are learning to operate the most modern office machinery — the multigraph, mim- eograph, adding machines, filing devices, etc. The college is under the able management of Karl F. Adams, formerly of Springfield, Mass., as principal. UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. Creighton University. The Creighton University, founded in 1878, takes its name from Edward Creighton, one of the pioneers of the west, who died intestate on November 5, 1871r, leaving his wife, Mary Lucretia Creighton, his sole heir. Though free to use her fortune as she pleased, she determined to carry out the oft expressed intention of her late husband to found a free college for boys, and in her will, dated September 23, 1875, she bequeathed $100,- 000 for this purpose "as a memorial of my late husband." ]\rrs. Creighton died January 23, 1876. Count John A. Creighton, brother of Edward, was one of the executors of the will. In turn the OMAHAMEMORIES 95 Count became its largest benefactor, leaving it on his death, which occurred February 7, 1907, with a substantial endowment and a plant comprising eight large buildings, constructed for educational purposes. The University, which was the outgrowth of the College, now includes a Preparatory Course, as well as Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Law, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. Owing to the generosity of the Creightons, tuition is free in the preparatory course and in the College of Arts; the charges are moderate in the professional schools. The Univer- sity's enrollment in 1915, including the summer session, was 1,198. Under the terms of the foundation, the preparatory course and College of Arts are open to men only, but the professional schools are co-educational. While the control of the University is vested in the Jesuits, one of the teaching orders of the Cath- olic Church, no distinction is made as to creed or race in any of the departments. The present officers are Rev. Francis Mc- Menamy, president ; Eev. Wm. P. Whelan, secretary ; Rev. Thomas Livingston, treasurer. University of Nebraska. The L^niversity was located in Omaha at Forty-second Street and Dewey Avenue, about 1910. Those in charge are : Dr. Irving Cutter, dean ; Dr. Oscar Schultz, pathology ; Dr. A. A. Johnson, clinical pathology ; Dr. C. W. Poynter, anatomy ; Dr. A. E. Guenther, physiology ; Dr. Willard, histology and embry- ology. University of Omaha. The University of Omaha is located at 3612 North Twenty- fourth Street in the old Redick home, and several additional buildings, which have been erected on the property since it was started here in 1910. Rev. Daniel Jenkins is president. Miscellaneous. Boyles' College, Eighteenth and Harney — Horace Boyles, presi- dent and treasurer. Mt. St. Mary's Seminary — Sisters of Mercy, Fifteenth and Cas- tellar Streets. St. Berchman's Academy — Sisters of Mercy, Twenty-seventh and St. Mary's Avenue. Sacred Heart Convent — Aladams, 36th and Burt Streets. Sacred Heart High School — Dominican Sisters, Twenty-second and Binney Streets. Presbyterian Theological Seminary — Kountze Place. Brownell Hall — Tenth and Worthington Streets. School for the Deaf — Forty-fifth and Boulevard. 96 OMAHA MEMORIES OUR WATERWORKS. In June, 1880, the matter of securing for this city a water plant was considered, by the introduction in the city council of an ordinance providing for the erection of such a plant. The bone of contention before the passage of the ordinance lay in the mode of pressure to be used, A companj^ which felt sure of securing the franchise sought to have the ordinance framed so as to construct a plant on what they termed the "Holley Sj'stem, " or direct pressure. This system was vigorously fought by Ed- ward Rosewater, editor of the Bee, to Avhom credit must be given for the defeat of that provision of the ordinance, which to this day is conceded to have proven the wisdom of his foresight. The franchise was given to a company %vho designated them- selves as the Omaha Water Works Company, with S. E. Locke as president, and a number of Omaha men as stockholders. As early as 1890 the stock held by local men was bought by an eastern syndicate, with Alonzo B. Hunt of this city as superintendent and general manager (both financially and politically). In the early '90s the plant went into the hands of a receiver and after its reorganization was known as the American Water Company, with A. B. Hunt undisturbed. In 1900 an agitation arose for municipal ownership of the plant and soon assumed a proportion that challenged the attention of the legislature, then in session, which gave and granted the city of Omaha the right to purchase the plant. An election was called and a bond proposition of $3,000,000 was submitted for that purpose, which met the approval of the voters. « The water company refused to sell at that price and no fur- ther steps were taken in the matter of the purchase until the convening of the next session of the legislation, in 1903, when R. Beecher Howell, a member of the senate from Douglas county, secured an amendment to the city charter providing for the appointment of three men to make an appraisement of the plant. The city, under this provision, was to choose one of the apprais- ers, the water company one, and the tAvo to select a third, all of which -vvas done. Two of the appraisers entered into a combine and the city was helpless when an appraisement of over .$5,000,000 was returned, which report the city council promptly refused to concur in. This refusal on the part of the cit}^ resulted in insti- tuting legal proceedings in the federal courts, which was finally determined by the Ihiited States Supreme Court in a verdict against the city, which judgment and costs amounted to over $6,000,000. In 1912 a bond proposition of $7,000,000 was submit- ted to the people for the purpose of paying this judgment and costs, which proposition was carried. In July of that year the Water Board assumed the entire control of the plant and Omaha became the owner of its own water works. OMAHAMEMORIES 97 In my judgment the people of Omaha paid too dearly for their whistle, as the plant was never worth more than $3,000,000 at any time, and more especiall.y after the number of years that had elapsed from the time of the offer and the tender of the $3,000,000 until the final termination of the litigation. The prop- erty, having been run down and neglected, was very much dete- riorated and the people of Omaha were practically swindled out of $4,000,000 through the passage of the law denying the city council the right to reject as well ai accept the report of the appraisers — this, coupled with the insane desire formed through the deception practiced upon the people in portraying the bene- fits to be derived through municipal ownership. As a consequence we have an additional debt heaped upon the heads of taxpayers of $7,000,000 and interest, with water rent no cheaper than was furnished by the privately owned concern, notwithstanding the beautiful array of figures which by a system of legerdemain we are led to believe that we are getting our water at a 100 per cent reduction. Speaking from my own personal experience, I can truthfully say that I paid less for water under the privately owned system than under that of municipal ownership. And yet we hear the hue and cry raised by some of our daily papers that the city should own the gas works, the electric light plant and the street railwa3^ In this cry they are joined by designing politicians, with the view and purpose of creating for themselves and their friends fat berths and an impregnable political fort. PARKS AND BOULEVARDS. In 1897 there were but two public parks in the city of Omaha — Jefferson Square and Ilanscom Park. Jefferson Square Park was donated to the city at the time the city was incor- porated. It embraces one city block, bounded on the north by Cass Street, south by Chicago Street, east by Fifteenth Street and west by Sixteenth Street. Hanscom Park was donated to the city in the early '70s by A. J. Ilanscom and James G. Megeath — there being no provision made by law for the keep and maintenance of parks or the pur- chase of lands for such purposes until the session of the legisla- ture of 1887 ; prior to that time there was no effort made to beau- tify our two parks. The city hired a park keeper at Ilanscom, who was paid a meager salary in addition to free house rent ; the only ornaments worthy of note in the park up to 1890 were two cadaverous bald eagles, disgustingly devouring raw meats. On the east entrance to this park was an arch sign which read, •''Nature Designs and Art Improves;" this old adage no doubt has been read by many who visited that park in the early '80s. If nature in its crude form ever needed the touch of art that park certainly did. Thirty years have worked wonders there 98 O M A H A M E M O R I E S with its now grand pavilion, beautiful winding driveways, flower gardens and lake. There are nineteen parks in Greater Omaha today, with an acreage of dry land of 917 acres and 217 acres under water. The principal ones are Hanscom, Elmwood, Miller, Riverview, Kountze, Bemis, Curtis and Fontenelle. Omaha has thirty-five miles of boulevards, well kept and M'ell devised, traveling in directions which enable one to gain a magnificent view of Omaha as well as western Iowa and the Avinding stream of the ]\Iissouri River and the ^Missouri Valley. At first our parks and boulevards were under the super- vision of a Park Board, which board for a time was appointed by the judges of the District Court of this judicial district. This was later changed, the appointive power being vested in the mayor. In 1910, the city having adopted the commission form of government, this department came under the management of one of the commissioners, the department of Parks and Boule- vards, which department since its creation has been and is j^et under the efficient management of Joseph Hummel. OMAHAMEMORIES 99 CHAPTER XXXIX. MAYORS OF OMAHA FROM 1879 TO 1917. Champion S. Chase. Champion S. Chase was mayor of Omaha when I came to Omaha, January 15, 1880. The city was run on a free and easy hasis, saloons were numerous and never closed. Government license was all that was required, and regulation was unheard of. Gambling- was wide open, and the resorts for such purposes were numerous and unbridled, it being the usual custom to have a ''spieler" in front of each gambling joint. Cheap, rough and tough theaters were numerous and limit- less as to conduct ; one in particular I recall was the old St, Elmo, located at 112-14 South Twelfth Street and run by Jack Nugent. It was no unusual thing to hear of a man being mur- dered there every week. This continued until the Omaha Herald and Omaha Bee took the matter in hand and began a crusade against the place and against the mayor, resulting in the closing of the theater. This was but a sample of the many evils that went unchecked during Mayor Chase's first administration when it ended in May, 1881, This was what the people at that time wanted, and INIayor Chase let them enjoy it. James E. Boyd. James E. Boyd was elected mayor of Omaha in May, 1881, defeating I. S. Ilascall. On Mayor Boj'd's entr^- into office, much was expected of him. The Slocumb law had been enacted by the legislature of that year. The brewers and saloon keepers sought to ignore the law and looked to Mayor Boyd to refuse to enforce it. In this they were disappointed, as the mayor vigorously enforced the law, and for some time became ver.y unpopular. His enforcement of the law soon proved his good judgment, as the malcontents had cooled off and lived up to a law that proved the most satisfactory of any ever enacted in the regulation of the liquor traffic. As previously stated in this work. Mayor Boyd was the first to inaugurate a system of public improvements in Omaha, such as grading, sewering and paving. In fact, his ad- ministration was a purelj^ business one. The moral standard of the city was elevated to a remarkable degree, and he would have retired from his first term a popular man were it not for his act in calling out the state militia in suppressing the famous "dump strike." 1(0 OMAHA MEMORIES Champion S. Chase. In the spring of 1883, Champion S. Chase was again elected mayor of Omaha. The city having enjoj^ed a clean administration for two years under Mayor Boyd, the public was in no humor to tolerate lawlessness, though electing Chase over Judge James W. Savage by the small majority of 151 votes. Judge Savage being the law and order candidate. The city had begun to take on airs by this time and the press and public vied with each other in an effort to maintain law, order and decency, thereby proceeded to curb and restrain those who sought to pursue their old antic capers as enjoyed under Mayor Chase 's first administration. Mayor Chase was unfortunate in his selection of city mar- shal, having selected a man for that position by the name of Guttery, a machinist at the Union Pacific shops. This man, shortly after his appointment, began to collect the fines from the inmates of houses of prostitution, failing to make return of the money to the city treasurer. An investiga- tion was had, which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Mr. Guttery and his serving three years in the state peniten- tiary. The outgrowth of this investigation, which was bitterly carried on and vigorously prosecuted b}^ the then county attor- ney. Park Godwin, resulted in the impeachment of Mayor Chase and, while not actually removed by the city council, he never sought to perform the duties of the office during the balance of his term, which was about one year. The president of the city council, P. F. ]\Iurphy, acted as mayor. Mayor Chase was after- ward appointed collector of customs for this part in 1898 and died about 1899. P. F. Murphy, Acting Mayor. Patrick F. Murphy in May, 1884, and by reason of the re- moval of Mayor Chase, was by the city council declared and recognized as acting mayor during the balance of Mayor Chase's unexpired term. Mayor Murphy conducted the affairs of the office to the satisfaction of the people, there being little or no friction between himself and the city council, and no loud protest on the part of the people concerning the moral status of the city. He was nominated by the republican party as their candi- date for mayor in the spring of 1885, but was defeated by James E. Boyd after one of the most bitter and acrimonious elections ever held in Omaha, and by a majority of 51 votes, claimed by many to have been secured by fraud. OMAHAMEMORIES 101 A more complete history of jMr. Murphy's life will be seen in these Keeollections, for the 3'ear 1885, William J. Broatch. William J. Broatch was elected mayor of Omaha April 1887, having defeated Joseph Garneau, the democratic nominee. This was Mr. Broatch 's first term, he succeeding himself, however, in November, 1895. During this (his first) term he devoted himself to the building up of a political machine — one that outstripped Tammany Hall in its palmiest days. His every acts and movements had in them a political sig- nificance, which tended at all times and under all circumstances to foster, nourish and mature his political plans. From his city attorney down to the street cleaner, none dared breathe the air of independence or give vent to an expression that was deroga- tory to his mighty machine or his political ambition. All had to have a permit from him to live, and a license to breathe the free air of heaven and enjoy the sunshine. How this mighty chief failed of renomination is fully set forth in these Recollec- tions under the heading of events of 1889. Richard C. Gushing. Richard C. Gushing was elected mayor of Omaha December, 1889, taking his seat on January 1, 1890. He was nominated by the democratic party without his knowledge and while out of the city, and knew nothing of his election until a few days before taking office. He defeated George W. Lininger, the republican nominee and the selection of Edward Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee, after one of the most remarkable and bitter fights ever experi- enced in the political history of this city, the details of which appear in these Recollections in the record of events of 1889. Mr. Gushing, or Mayor Gushing, having defeated Mr. Rose- water's choice, he became a target for his virulent and merciless attacks, and without cause or provocation. A council which was in accord Mdth his policies and which constituted three-fourths of that body, came in for a like share of abuse from Mr. Rosewater, as is more fully stated in these Recollections in the record of events of 1890-1. Mr. Gushing Avas a business man and conducted the public's business as he would conduct his own private affairs, never per- mitting politics to enter into any duty that pertained to the wel- fare of the city of Omaha, He was no politician and while he was a democrat, yet his appointments were equally divided between democrats and republicans. Fitness for office was the sole requirement of the applicant. 102 O M A H A M E M O R I E S He knew nothing and eared less about the political game, 3'et he made a record for doing things that has never been equalled in the history of Omaha, his administration being the only one so far in Omaha's history where a retiring administra- tion left a surplus in every fund. See Recollections of 1890-1 of this book. Perhaps I may be accused by some as being partial to Mr. Gushing and boastful of his administration for the reason that I Avas a member of tlie city council during the two years of his administration. To those I would appeal to the records, which is always the best evidence. Mr. Gushing left Omaha in 1906, moving to Los Angeles, Galifornia, where he died in 1912. George P. Bemis. George P. Bemis was elected to his first term as mayor of Omaha December, 1891, taking his seat January 3, 1892. Mr. Bemis was taken from the archives, from which he was resurrected by Edward Rosewater. His only claim to the office lay in the fact that he was a nephew of George Francis Train, he of visionary fame. How his nomination was broulit about may be found in these Recollections in noting the events of 1891. Mr. Bemis served two terms, having succeeded himself in 1894. For the purposes of signing all warrants and public docu- ments he was apparently alive ; aside from that he breathed only with the consent of Edward Rosewater and W. J. Connell. William J. Broatch. On January 1, 1906, AY. J. Broatch was again seated as mayor of Omaha for the second time, defeating Gharles H. Brown. The army of office seekers who had been shut out for four years under the Bemis-Rosewater regime rallied to their old boss in the primary and put him " over, " and were now ready to accept the loaves and fishes which the old Tammany boss dished out as was his custom in his halcyon days. Kr. Broatch in his second term had evidently gained wis- dom by past experience, as his conduct and general demeanor was a striking contrast to that of his first term. This was evi- denced by the fact that he sought to avoid entangling alliances and political dictation. By so doing he succeeded in making for himself a creditable record during that term. OMAHAMEMORIES 103 Frank E. Moores. The legislature of 1897 having changed the date of the city election from the usual time in December to that of April, cut short Mayor Broatch's term nine months. On April 15, 1897, the election was held and Frank E. Moores was elected mayor for the first time, having defeated Ed. E. Howell, for whose benefit the charter was changed, and by his own efforts, he being then a member of the state senate. In addi- tion to the change of time of holding city elections, the term was extended from tM'o years to three. Mayor Moores did not get peaceable possession of the office, as there was a question as to his eligibility to hold the office, the contention being that while clerk of the District Court he had failed to turn over to his successor in office certain moneys claimed to be due from him paid by litigants. This claim was disputed by "Sir. Moores, but Mr. Broatch refused to vacate the office of mayor while the matter was in dispute. However, ]\Iayor-elect Moores gained possession of the office during the night prior to his installation and, having been in possession, the burden of a contest fell upon Mr. Broatch, who after consid- erable litigation, was defeated, and Mayor Moores Avas left undisturbed, serving out his term of three years. Frank E. Moores. At the spring primarj' of 1900 Frank E. ]\Ioores was again a candidate for the nomination for mayor, having as his opponent W. W. Bingham, the then president of the city council. This primary was hard fought, was bitter and unrelenting, resulting in a tie vote in the convention, with the Ninth ward on "the fence," the outcome of which was that Moores' men out- generaled the Bingham men by giving the nomination for city treasurer to Gus Henning, one of the delegates from the Ninth ward, thus securing the votes from that ward and thereby the nomination of Moores for mayor. Mr. Moores had as his opponent at the election W. S. Pop- pleton, a democrat, a young lawyer, a native son of Omaha, a bright, clean young man (unfortunately too clean). He was defeated by Mayor Moores at the election by a majority of 1,000. Mr. Moores took his seat for the second time on May 20, 1900, serving out his three years. Frank E. Moores. At the primary in the spring of 1903, Mayor IMoores was a candidate to succeed himself, having as his opponent E. A. Ben- son. This primary proved no less bitter and unrelenting than 104 OMAHAMEMORIES that of 1900, presenting in many respects the same conditions as that of 1900, there being an equal number of delegates elected from the various wards for each of the two candidates. The convention was held in Washinton Hall. After some two hours of wrangling the Moores faction elected Robert Cowell (now on the school board) as chairman of the convention. The Benson faction elected C. W. DeLamatre (an attorney) as their chairman. Then pandemonium reigned supreme ; cat calls, crim- ination and recrimination furnished amusement for the spec- tators. In this connection I am free to say that I have never seen a human being display greater nerve or maintain a cooler head under like circumstances than did Robert Cowell, the Moores' chairman of that convention. It appeared that the Moores followers had elected one dele- gate in the Eighth ward by a majority of one vote. His name, I believe, was Rasmussen. This delegate did not show up at the convention. It was claimed by the Moores faction that he had been spirited away by the Benson crowd. IIo"wever, in the organization of the convention, the Moores element secured a Benson delegate from the Second ward in the person of one Mr. Ilaarman, thereby securing one majority for the purpose of organization. "When the roll call for nominations was made the Second ward cast its solid vote for Frank E. Moores. Haarman made an effort to rise for the purpose of voting for Mr. Benson. He was grabbed by the throat by one Sam Morris and forced down into his seat. The roll call showed that Frank E. Moores received a majority of one vote over IMr. Benson, and the chair declared Mr. Moores the nominee of the convention, whereupon the Benson delegates and folloAvers left the convention hall and proceeded to the ^Millard Hotel, where they nominated Benson for mayor and all the other candidates nominated by the Moores conven- tion with the exception of Mr. Moores. Mr. Benson's name, how- ever, did not appear on the official ballot as the republican nominee, but that of a citizens' ticket. The democrats in their convention at the Turner Hall, Eight- eenth and Harney Streets, a few days after the republican con- vention nominated Ed. E. Howell for mayor. At the election Mayor Moores was elected by 800 plurality, taking his seat for the third time a few days after his election. His health having failed, he was absent from his office the greater part of one year. He did not live to serve out his entire term, dying a short time before the expiration of his term, February, 1906. He was OMAHAMEMORIES 105 succeeded by Harry Zimman, then president of the city council, who served out the balance of Mayor Moores' unexpired term as acting mayor. Mayor Moores was a much abused man and unjustly so. Few men knew him better than I, having known him intimately for more than a quarter of a century prior to his death. Dliring that time I had occasion to know of the many acts of charity and kindness performed by him. He was a man with a big heart and an open pocketbook, ever ready and willing to give a helping hand to the deserving, and without show or display on his part. Frank E. Moores was a loyal friend and a bitter enemy; the fire of his loyalty was as intensely hot as the other was icy cold. Maj'or Moores made a good record as maj^or. Not a dollar of the public funds were unjustly squandered or extravagantly expended, and his remarkable record in handling the affairs of the city during the Trans-Mississippi Exposition will never be equalled by any other mayor of Omaha, as possibly the oppor- tunity will never be given to another mayor to handle such a large body of people and of such a mixed character. Mayor Moores was buried in Prospect Hill cemetery, where I frequently call to pay my respects to his mortal remains. May he rest in peace, as he had little of it while in public life. Harry B. Zimman, Acting Mayor. Harry B. Zimman filled out the unexpired term of Mayor Moores and discharged the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the general public, and with such credit to himself that his term will ever remain a living monument to his memory. James C. Dahlman. James C. Dahlman was elected mayor of Omaha for the first time April 20, 1906, and for three consecutive terms thereafter, and at this writing is mayor of Omaha, his term expiring May, 1918. James C. Dahlman was born in Dewitt County, Texas, De- cember 15,, 1856, and came to Nebraska in 1878; was engaged in handling horses and cattle in his boyhood days in Texas. On arriving in Nebraska he worked as a cowboy for three years on one of the big ranches in western Nebraska, was shortly after- wards made foreman — trailing cattle from Indian Territory and as far west as Oregon. He was later appointed branding inspector for the Wyoming Stock Association, located at Valentine, Nebraska, which at that time was the terminus of the railroad. When Dawes County was 106 OMAHAMEMORIES organized he was elected sheriff three consecutive terms, and mayor of Chadron for two consecutive terms; was a member of the railway commission of Nebraska from 1896 to 1897; was chairman of the democratic state central committee four years; on the democratic national committee for eight years ; was en- gaged in the commission business at South Omaha for the first five years after moving to Omaha or until his election as mayor. Mr. Dahlman was comparatively unknown in Omaha when first filing for the office of mayor. For that reason his aspirations were at first treated as a joke, but, having had no opposition, he Avas as a matter of course nominated. He had for his opponent E. A. Benson, who secured the republican nomination against W. J. Broatch and Gus Henning at the primary on what was supposed to have been a reform movement. As the campaign progressed this unknown and sup- posed joker in the pack proved himself one of the finest cam- paigners that ever ran for office in this city. So rapidly had be gained in popiilarity that the average hall became too small to hold his audiences and Avas forced in the last days of his cam- paign to rent theaters to accommodate the multitude. The election being held, he defeated his opponent by 2,900 votes, and carried the entire democratic ticket with him with the exception of Harry Zimman for the city council. Mr. Dahlman, having creditably and satisfactorily served out his first term of three years, was again a candidate to succeed himself. He again secured the nomination, having as his oppo- nent at the primary Edward E. Berryman. His opponent at the election was John P. Breen, an attorney, who secured the repub- lican nomination. At this election ]\Ir. Dahlman made his second whirlwind campaign, defeating his opponent by about 3,000 votes, thus for the second time defeating the candidates of the so-called ''Law and Order League." Mayor Dahlman having served his second term to the satis- faction of the general public, he again became a candidate to succeed himself. The city, having, by act of the legislature, adopted the commission form of government, and on a non-parti- san basis, Mr. Dahlman was nominated as one of the commis- sioners, but not without one of the hardest fights of his life. The so-called better element had selected from among the nominees seven men, placing them on what they termed a "Citi- zens Ticket.'' The "Peoples Ticket'' or more properly called "The Dahlman Ticket," was composed of the seven discards, or those men classed as undesirables, the result being that at the election every man on the "Peoples," or "Dahlman Ticket," was elected by large majorities, and served for three years as such commis- OMAHA MEMORIES 107 sioners, after selecting and electing Mr. Dahlman as mayor, thus making his third term as such. Having served one term under the commission form of gov- ernment and three terms as mayor, Mr. Dahlman was a candidate to succeed himself at the primary in April, 1915. At that primary the Omaha Daily News selected seven men for commissioners; as in the previous primary election, four- teen had to be nominated. The Dahlman ticket at the primary was made up of six of the holdovers, and a new man for the seventh place. At the primary the seven on the Dahlman ticket were nomi- nated and a scattering few on the News' ticket. The News then selected six from the other seven nominees, framed and pre- sented a ticket of seven men, taking up one of the Dahlman men. At the election Mr. Dahlman and four others on his ticket were re-elected, the News having pulled through but two of its candidates, one of which was supported by the World-Herald and the other by the Bee. On the organization of the council, or the commissioners, Mr. Dahlman was selected and elected by the body as mayor, and by a unanimous vote. It is very evident from this brief biography of Mr. Dahlman that there must be something unusual in the makeup of this man that has made him so popular, and that has kept and maintained his popularity, for no ordinary man could have maintained it as long as he has, more particularly in public life. A man that has run for office nearly a score of times and never having suffered but one defeat (when he ran for governor of this state a few years ago) ; yet few men running for office were ever more brutally assailed and vilified than he. Having been chief executive of this city for four consecutive terms, justly entitles him to the credit and honor of being the most popular man Omaha has ever had. In this connection I will state that to Miss Nellie C. Malone, his efficient secretary, is due much of this credit. Those who have had no dealings with him will naturally put the query, "Why his popularity?" This question, I think I am in good position to answer, differing as I do from him in religion and politics, not related to him by marriage or otherwise, never having enjoyed an office at his hands, never having sought or been tendered one by or through him, nor ever expecting any. Now as to why he is popular: Because he is honest, and that no one living or dead could, can or ever did deny. Because he is broad-minded and free from 108 OMAHA MEMORIES the evil of bigotry or fanaticism, a hater of sham reformers and dreamy imbeciles. Because he is loyal to his family, his friends, his country and his God — traits that constitute a true American. Because his heart and hand go out in response to calls and demands of the poor and oppressed, the widow and the orphan, and so long as a dollar jingles in his pocket, the one with a hard luck story can have all of it but carfare. Because he has protected the taxpayer against the grafter, the trickster and the oily-tongued confidence men who seek to make an inroad upon the city treasury. Because his administration has never been even tainted with the breath of scandal. "With these noble traits of manhood, of which there is no denying he possesses, is it any wonder that he is popular, is it any wonder that the attacks made upon him by designing per- sons have been denied and repudiated by the vote of the people as expressed at the ballot box time and again, and no doubt will be repeatedly expressed so long as James C. Dahlman lives and asks for the suffrage of the people of Omaha. Long may he live, and may his shadow never grow less, is the wish of a big majority of the people of Omaha ; and were I to drink to him a toast, my sentiments would be those expressed by Lord Byron in his toast to Tom IMoore : "Were there but one drop in the well As I stood upon the brink. Ere my fainting spirit fell 'Tis to the Jim Dahlman I would drink." OMAHAMBMORIES 109 CHAPTER XL. Members of the City Council; Commissioners; Presidents of the Council; also City Clerks and Deputies who have served Omaha from 1879 to 1917. 1880. Mayor — Champion S. Chase. President of Council — James E. Boyd. Members of Council — First Ward — Charles Kaufman, E. Roddis. Second Ward — George Labaugh, Charles W. Sherman, Third Ward — Thomas Blackmore, William II. Kent. Fourth Ward — Henry Ilornberger, John D. Jones. Fifth Ward — Levi J. Kennard, Thomas H. Dailey. Sixth Ward — 0, G. Dodge, James Stephenson, James E. Boyd. City Clerk — Truman Buck; resigned April 20, 1880, and on the same date James F. McCartney was elected in his place. No Deputy City Clerk. 1881. Mayor — James E. Boyd. President of Council — Thomas H. Dailey. Members of Council — First Ward — Alexander Mc- Fourth — M. Dunham. Gavick, Second — M. A. McNamara, Fifth — Thomas Dailey. Third — Henry Ilornberger. Sixth — W. J. Barker. Councilmen at Large — Richard O'Keefe J. 0. Corby Fred Dellone Charles Kaufman Samuel Hessman Homer Steel City Clerk— J. J. L. C. Jewett. No Deputy City Clerk. 1882. Mayor — James E. Boyd. President of Council — Homer Stull. Members of Council — First Ward— C. C. Thrane. Fourth— M. Dunham. Second— John F. Behm. Fifth— Ed. Leeder. Third— D. L. McGuckin. Sixth— W. J. Baker. City Clerk— J. J. L. C. Jewett. No Deputy City Clerk. 110 OMAHA MEMORIES 1883. Mayor — Champion S. Chase. President of Council — W. J. Baker, ^Members of Council — First Ward— C. C. Thrane. Second — John F. Behm. Third— D. L. JMcGuckin. Couneilmen at Large — P. F. Murphy Charles Kaufman C. A. Woodworth Fourth — M. Dunham. Fifth— Ed. Leeder. Sixth— W. J. Baker. I. S. Hascall William Anderson J. B. Redfield City Clerk— J. J. L. C. Jewett. No Deputy. 1884. Mayor — Champion S. Chase. President of Council — P. F. Murphy. IMembers of Council — First Ward— C. C. Thrane. Fourth— Will F. Bechtel. Second — John F. Behm. Fifth — Ed. Leeder. Third— Pat. Ford. Sixth— John B. Furay. City Clerk— J. J. L. C. Jewett. No Deputy. Maj'or Chase was removed from office June 30, 1884, and P. F. Murphj^, president of council, acted as mayor for the rest of the term. 1885. Maj'^or — James E. Bojd. President of Council — William F. Bechtel. Members of Council — First Ward— C. C. Thrane. Second — John Behm. Third^Pat. Ford. Couneilmen at Large — Thomas Dailey C. F. Goodman Chas. S. Goodrich City Clerk— J. B. Southard. Fourth— AVm. F. Bechtel. Fifth — Ed. Leeder. Sixth — John B. Furay. Lewis Schroeder Michael Lee F. E. Bailey, Sr. No Deputy. 1886. Mayor — James E. Boj^d. President of Council — William F. Bechtel. ]\Iembers of Council — First AVard — Thos. J. Lawry Second — Frank J. Kasper. Third— Pat. Ford. Couneilmen at Large — Thos. Dailey C. F. Goodman Chas. S. Goodrich Fourth — Wm. F. Bechtel. Fifth— Chas. D. Cheney. Sixth— F. W. Manville. Michael Lee Louis Schroeder F. E. Bailey, Sr. City Clerk— J. B. Southard. No Deputy. OMAHA MEMORIES 111 1887. Mayor — William J. Broach. President of Council — William F. Bechtel Members of Council — First Ward — Thos. J. Lowry Second — Frank J. Kasper. Third— Pat. Ford. Fourth — ^Wm. F, Bechtel. Fifth— Chas. Cheney. Sixth— F. W. Manville. Seventh — W^. II. Alexander. Eighth— A. M. Kitchen. Ninth — ^AV, I. Kierstead. Councilmen at Large — Isaac S. Hascall Michael Lee F. E. Bailey, Sr. J. M. Counsman Chas. Van Camp City Clerk— J. B. Southard. No Deputy Adam Snyder Jeff W. Bedford John F. Boyd Leavit Burnham 1888-1889. Mayor — W. J. Broatch. President of Council — Michael Lee. Members of Council — First AVard — Thos. Lowry, Second — Frank J. Kasper. Third— Pat. Ford. Fourth^=^Daniel TI. AVheeler. Fifth— Ed. 'Connor. Councilmen at Large — Isaac S. Hascall Michael Lee F. E. Bailey, Sr. Chas. L. Van Camp J. M. Counsman City Clerk— J. B. Southard ; served in 1888 and 1889 ; elected by City Council for one year. No Deputy. 1890. Mayor — R. C. Cushing. President of Council — C. L. Chaifee. Members of Council — First Ward — Thos. J. Lowry. Sixth — Wm. G. Shriver. Second — Frank J. Kasper. Seventh — C. L. Chaffee. Third— Pat. Ford. Eighth— A. H. Sander. Fourth — Dan H. Wheeler. Ninth — Edgar P. Davis. Fifth— Ed O'Connor. Sixth — Wm. G. Shriver. Seventh — C. L. Chaffee. Eighth — Albert II. Sander. Ninth — Edgar P. Davis. Adam Snyder Jeff W. Bedford John F. Boyd Leavit Burnham 112 OMAHA MEMORIES Councilmen at Large — Wni. Bechtel Theo. Olsen F. D. Bloomer John MeLearie B. F. Madsen City Clerk — John Groves. Deputy — Harry Counsman. Jas. Donnelly, Sr, Henry Osthoff E. F. Morearty F. D. Cooper 1891. Mayor — R. C. dishing. President of Council — Thomas Lowry. Members of Council — First Ward — Thos. J. Lowry. Second — Peter Elsasser. Third— Richard Burdish. Fourth— Thos. Tuttle. Fifth— T. J. Conway. Councilmen at Large — Wm. Bechtel Theo. Olsen F. J. Bloomer John ]\rcLearie B. F. Madsen City Clerk — John GrOves. Deputy— n. W. Giberson. 1892. Mayor — George P. Bemis. President of Council — E. P. Davis. Members of Council — First Ward— Thos. Lowry. Second — Peter E. Elsasser. Third— Richard Burdish. Fourth— Thos. Tuttle. Fifth— T. J. Conway. Councilmen at Large — Peter Bach Wm. Bechtel Albert Edwards Ed. Howell H. Jacobsen City Clerk — John Groves. Deputy — U. B. Balcombe. Sixth — Christian Specht. Seventh — C. L. Chaffee. Eighth— C. E. Brunner. Ninth — Edgar P. Davis. Jas. Donnelly, Sr. H. Osthoff E. F. Morearty P. D. Cooper Sixth— Chris Specht. Seventh— C. L. Chaft'ee. Eighth— C. E. Brunner. Ninth — Edgar P. Davis. Geo, Mimroe John McLearie Sol Prince John Steel OMAHA MEMORIES 113 1893. Mayor — George P. Bemis, President of Council— W. F. Beehtel. Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac S. Ilascall. Sixth — Chris Specht, Second — Peter E. Elsasser. Seventh — C. L. Thomas. Third — A. B. McAndrews. Eighth — C. E. Brunner. Fourth — D. II. W. Wheeler. Ninth — Churchill Parker. Fifth— W. A. Saunders. Councilmen at Large — Peter Bach Wm. Beehtel A. G. Edwards Ed. Newall , H. Jacobsen City Clerk — John Groves. Deputy — U. B. Balcombe. George Munroe John McLearie Sol Prince John Steele 1894. Mayor — George P. Bemis. President of Council — Ed. E. Howell. Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac Ilascall. Second — ^Peter Elsasser. Third— A. B. McAndrews. Fourth— D. H. Wheeler. Fifth— W. A. Sanders. Councilmen at Large — Peter Bach Wm. Beehtel Frank Burkley Albert Cahn A. J. Edwards *Mr. Wakely died August 1, 1894, and J. T. Evans was appointed Clerk to serve until. next election. Deputy — U. B. Balcombe. 1895. Mayor — George P. Bemis. President of Council — A. G. Edwards. Members of Council — First Ward — Sam I. Gordon. Sixth — Chas. L. Jaynes. Second — Antone Kiment. Seventh — Chas. L. Thomas. Third— Sol Prince. Eighth— Cadet Taylor. Fourth — F. B. Kennard. Ninth — George IMercer. Fifth— W. A. Saunders. Sixth — Chris Specht. Seventh — C. L. Thomas. Eighth — C. E. Bruner. Ninth — Churchill Parker. Robt. Holmes Ed. E. Howell II. Jacobsen John Lemly 114 OMAHA MEMORIES Coiincilmen at Large — Peter Bach Wm. Bechtel F. J. Burkley Albert Calm A. G. Edwards City Clerk — Beeeher Iligby. Deputy — George 11. Ilolbrook. Robert Holmes Ed. E. Howell H. Jaeobsen John Lemlv 1896. Mayor— AV. J. Broatch. President of Council— ^AY-. A. Saunders Members of Council — First Ward— I. S. Hascall. Second — Antone Kiment. Third— Sol Prince. Fourth— F. P. Kennard, Fifth— W. A. Saunders. Councilmen at Large — W. W. Bingham John Lemly R. D. Duncan Louis Burmeister D. H. Wheeler City Clerk— Beeeher Iligby. Deputy — George II. Ilolbrook. Sixth — Chas. Jaynes. Seventh— C. L. Thomas. Eighth— Cadet Taylor. Ninth — George ^Monroe. D. H. Christie Carr Axford James Allen F. J. Burkley G. Benewa 1897. ]\Iayor— W. J. Broatch. President of Council — W. W. Bingham. Members of Council — First Ward— Ernest Stuht. Second— Thos. J. Flvnn. Third— Richard CAIalley. Fourth— AVm. F. Bechtel. Fifth— Alfred J. Lunt. Councilmen at Large — W. W. Bingham Robt, D. Duncan Louis Burmeister D. H. Wheeler D. H. Christie City Clerk— Beeeher Higby. Deputy — George II. Holbrook. Sixth— Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. i\Iouut. Eighth— Thos. S. Crocker. Ninth — Geo. W. fiercer. Carr Axford James Allen F. J. Burkley G. S. Benewa OMAHA MEMORIES 115 Election April 20, 1897. jVIayor — Frank E. Moores. President of Council — W. W. Bingham. Members of Council — First Ward— Ernest Stuht. Second — W. W. Bingham. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — Wm. F. Bechtel. Fifth— Chas. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk — Beecher Higby. Deputy — George H. Holbrook. 1898. Mayor — Frank E. Moores. President of Council — W. W. Bingham Members of Council — First Ward— Ernest Stuht. Second — W. W. Bingham. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — Wm. F. Bechtel. Fifth— C. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk — Beecher Higby. Deputy — George H, Holbrook. 1899. jMayor — Frank E. Moores. President of Council — W. W. Bingham Members of Council — First Ward— Ernest Stuht. Second — W. W. Bingham. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — Wm. F. Bechtel. Fifth— C. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk — Beecher Higby. Deputy — George H. Holbrook. Sixth — Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth — Geo. W. IMercer. Sixth— Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth— Geo. W. Mercer. Sixth — Myron D. Carr. Seventh — David T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth — George W. Mercer. 1900. Mayor — Frank E. Moores. President of Council — Myron D. Carr. Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac Hascall. Second — Fred H. Hoj^e. Third— H. B. Zimman. Fourth — Wm. B. Whitehorn. Fifth— C. O. Lobeck. City Clerk— Wm. H. Holbrook. Deputy — Frank Bandhaur. Sixth— Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth — Simon Trostler. 116 OMAHA MEMORIES 1901. Mayor— F. E. Moores. President of Council — !Myron D. Carr. Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac S. Hascall. Second — Fred H. Hoye. Third — H. B. Zimman. Fourth — Wm. B. Whitehorn, Fifth— C. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk— Wm. II. Elbourne. Deputy — Frank Bandhaur. Sixth — Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F.' J. Burkley. Ninth — Simon Trostler. 1902. Mayor — F. E. Moores. President of Council — Myron D. Carr Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac S. Hascall Second — F. II. Iloye. Third — H. B. Zimman. Fourth — Wm. B. Whitehorn. Fifth— C. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk— AVm. Elbourne. Deputy — Frank Bandhaur. 1903. Mayor — F. E. ]\Ioores. President of Council — ]\Iyron D. Carr. Members of Council — First Ward — Isaac S. Hascall, Second — F. II. Hoye. Third- H. B. Zimman. Fourth — Wm. B. Whitehorn. Fifth— C. 0. Lobeck. City Clerk— Wm. II. Elbourne. Deputy — Frank Bandhaur. 1904. Mayor— F. E. IMoores. President of Council — PI. B. Zimman. IMembers of Council — First Ward— P. :\[. Bach. Second — F. II. Hoye. Third — ^11. B. Zimman. Fourth — George D. Nicholson. Fifth— D. J. O'Brien. City Clerk— Wm. II. Elbourne. Deputy — S. Simonson. Sixth — Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth — ^Simon Trostler. Sixth — Myron D. Carr. Seventh— D. T. Mount. Eighth— F. J. Burkley. Ninth — Simon Trostler, Sixth— E. D. Evans. Seventh— R. W. Dvball. Eighth— P. C. Shroeder. Ninth — C. S. Huntington. OMAHA MEMORIES 117 1905. Mayor — F. E. Moores. President of Council — H. B. Ziiuman. Members of Council — First Ward— P. M. Bach. Second — F. H. Iloye. Third — IT. B. Zimman. Fourth — Geo. D. Nicholson. Fifth— D. J. O'Brien. City Clerk — Wni. II. Elbourne. Deputy — S. Simonson. 1906. Mayor — F. E. Moores. President of Council — II. B. Zimman. Members of Council — First Ward— P. M. Bach. Second — F. IT. Hoye. Third — H. B. Zimman. Fourth — A. H. Comstock. Fifth— D. J. O'Brien. City Clerk — W. H. Elbourne. Deputy — S. Simonson. 1907. Mayor — James C. Dahlman. President of Council — L. B. Johnson. Members of Council — First Ward — A. Hansen. Second — Lee Bridges. Third — IT. B. Zimman. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk — Dan Butler. Deputy — Tom Daily. Sixth— E. D. Evans. Seventh— R. W. Dyball. Eighth— P. C. Shroeder. Ninth — C. S. Huntington. Sixth— E. D. Evans. Seventh— R. W. Dyball. Eighth— P. C. Shroeder. Ninth — C. S. Huntington. Seventh — Alma Jackson. Eighth— J. C. Davis. Ninth — Thomas McGovern. Tenth— P. E. Elsasser. Eleventh — M. F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— J. W. Bedford. 1908. Mayor — James C. Dahlman. President of Council — L. B. Johnson Members of Council — First Ward — A. Hansen. Second — Lee Bridges. Third — II. B. Zimman. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk — Dan Butler. Deputy — Thomas IT. Dailey. Seventh — Alma Jackson. Eighth— J. C. Diivis. Ninth — Thomas McGovern. Tenth — ^P. E. Elsasser. Eleventh — M. F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— J. W. Bedford. 118 OMAHA MEMORIES 1909. Mayor — James C. Dalilmaii. President of Council — L. B. Johnson. Members of Council- First Ward— A. Hansen. Second — Lee Bridges. Third— H. B. Zimman. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk— Dan Butler. Deputy — Thomas II. Dailey. Seventh — Alma Jackson. Eighth— J. C. Davis. Ninth — Thomas McGovern. Tenth— P. E. Elsasser. Eleventh^M. F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— J. W. Bedford. Mayor — James C. Dahlmau. President of Council — Louis Members of Council — First Ward — Louis Berka, Second — Lee Bridges. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk— Dan Butler. Deputy— Thomas II. Dailej'. 1910. Burmeister. Seventh — Fred Schroeder. Eighth— J. B. Hummel. Ninth — Thomas McGovern. Tenth— A. C. Kugel. Eleventh — M. F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— Charles Davis. 1911. Mayor — James C. Dahlman. President of Council — G. F. Brucker. Members of Council — First Ward — Louis Berka. Second — Lee Bridges. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk— Dan Butler. Deputy — Thomas II. Dailey. Seventh— Fred Schroeder. Eighth — Joseph Hummel. Ninth — Thomas McGovern. Tenth— A. C. Kugel. Eleventh — ^L F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— Charles Davis. INIayor — James C. Dahlman. President of Council— Louis Members of Council — First Ward — Louis Berka. Second — Lee Bridges. Third — Louis Burmeister. Fourth — L. B. Johnson. Fifth— G. F. Brucker. Sixth— W. S. Sheldon. City Clerk— Dan B. Butler. Deputy — Thomas 11. Dailey 1912. Berka. Seventh — Fred Schroeder. Eighth — Joseph B. Hummel. Ninth — Thomas ]\IcGovern. Tenth— A. C. Kugel. Eleventh — M. F. Funkhauser. Twelfth— Charles Davis. OMAHAMEM OKIES 119 1913. Beginning of Commission Form of Government. Mayor — James C. Dahlman. President of Council — James C. Dahlman. Apportionment of Departments — Dan B. Butler, Supt. of Accounts and Finances. Jos. B. Hummel, Supt. of Parks and Boulevards. A. C. Kugel, Supt. Dept. Street Cleaning and Maintenance. John J. Ryder — Supt. Dept. Police, Sanitation and Public Safety. Ohas. H. Withnell — Supt. Dept. Fire Protection, Water Supply. James C. Dahlman — Supt. Dept. Public Affairs. Thos. McGovern — Supt. Street Improvements. City Clerk — Thomas J. Flynn. Deputy Clerk — H. M. Primeau. 1914. Same as 1913 with the exception that Mr. Kugel and Mr. Ryder exchanged departments. City Clerk— Thos. J. Flynn. Deputy Clerk — H. M. Primeau. 1915. President of Council — James C. Dahlman. Commissioners — Dan Butler — Supt. Dept. Accounts and Finances. Chas. "Withnell, Supt. Fire Protection and Water Supply. James C. Dahlman, Supt. Dept. Public Affairs. Jos. Hummel, Supt. Dept. Parks and Boulevards. W. S. Jardine, Supt. Dept. Public Improvements. J. C. Drexel, Supt. Street Cleaning and Maintenance. A. C. Kugel, Supt. Dept. Police, Sanitation and Public Safety. City Clerk — Thomas J. Flynn. Deputy Clerk — H. M. Primeau. 120 OMAHAMEMORIES CHAPTER XLI. JUDGES OF THE DISTRICT COURT FROM 1879 TO 1916. James W. Savage. Judge Savage served as judge of the District Court from 1879 to 1883. It was my pleasure and privilege to have known Judge Savage personally and intimately while on the bench and after his retirement, and of him I must say that I never knew a man possessed of more character than he. It made no difference to him what your station ; as long as you were an honest man you were welcome to his fatherly advice and a cheerful greeting. After his retirement from the bench I was instrumental in securing his nomination in 1883 for mayor of Omaha at the hands of a democratic convention. lie was defeated at the election by Champion S. Chase by the small majority of 151 votes. He was also defeated in 1883 for supreme judge of this state. He died in 1888 beloved by all. In politics Judge Sav- age was a democrat. James W. Neville. Judge James "VY. Neville served as judge of the District Court from 1882 to 1888. It was not my pleasure to have known Judge Neville intimately, but I had ample opportunity of noting » his career during his long service on the bench, where he served with distinguished honor. He was a man with a good legal mind and of even, judicial temperament, and as a judge endeared him- self to all Avho knew him. The judge, prior to going upon the bench, served one term as United States district attorney for this state. He is still in the land of the living, touching elbows each day with the "old timers" and renewing new acquaintances, all of whom join in wishing him many years of enjoyment on this terrestrial globe. Eleazer Wakeley. Judge Eleazer Wakeley served as judge of the District Court from 1882 to 1892. I must say of Judge Wakeley, as I have said of Judge Savage, it was my pleasure to have known him inti- mately and well, and to knoAv him was but to love him. He was the soul of honor, a lawyer of the old school, who loved his profession and who would prefer death to casting reflection upon it. As a judge he seemed to have been born for the dis- charge of such duties as devolve upon the position. He was OMAHA MEMORIES 121 cool, calm and deliberate, never deviating from a course and conclusion which sprang from mature conviction. He died in 1912 at the ripe old age of 81 years, and dj'ing, went down to that earth from which he sprung — Wept, honored and sung, with a crowning glory of unsullied honor. Louis A. GrofF. Louis A. Grotf served as judge of the District Court from 1887 to 1890, at which time he resigned, having been appointed by President Harrison to the office of commissioner of the United States land office. Judge Grotf was a quiet, unassuming man, and made an excellent judge. He presided on the criminal bench during the memorable trial of Mrs. Bechler, charged with having on November 20, 1888, shot and killed Mr. King in the corridor of the Paxton Hotel. ^Ir. King was the son of JMr. King of the clothing firm of Browning-King. Having served four years as commissioner of the land office, he moved from Omaha to Los Angeles, California, where he now resides. M. R. Hopewell. M. R. Hopewell served as judge of the District Court from 1887 to 1895. In appearance the judge would remind one of a retired country gentleman, an affable person, genial and com- panionable. He made an excellent judge, and after retiring from the bench was elected lieutenant governor of this state. He died in 1913. He resided at Tekamah in Burt County. George W. Doane. George W. Doane served as judge of the District Court from 1887 to 1892. Judge Doane, like Wakeley, Savage and Neville, was a pioneer, having resided in the state for close to a half century. He M-as a very dignified man and carried himself with an air of military discipline. Yet he was one of the most affable of men, easy to approach, shook hands with a warm and genial impulse, ever ready to give counsel and advice to young men. Having met him when I was but a young man, I am in a position to know how generous he was with his advice to young men, as I feel to this day that I owe much to him for the fatherly advice which he so often gave me, and of which today I feel that I am the beneficiary. Judge Doane made a model judge. He died in 1912. He was one of God's noblemen, and I am sure that in God's book of golden deeds his name is written in large letters. 122 OMAHAMEM OKIES Joseph R. Glarkson. Judge Joseph R. Clarkson served as judge of the District Court from the fall of 1889 to January 1, 1892. The Douglas CountA' Bar, having met in mass convention, indorsed him for the vacancy caused by reason of the resignation of Judge Groff. Having received the bar indorsement. Governor Thayer ap- pointed him to fill out the term until a judge could be elected at the fall election in 1889. The democratic judicial convention of that year nominated Judge Clarkson (though a republican) and he was elected over Herbert J. Davis, the nominee of the republican party; this after one of the most bitter campaigns ever waged for this office. Judge Clarkson served out his term and declined to run at the next regular convention. He made a splendid judge and should have remained on the bench. I have a warm spot in my heart for Judge Clarkson, as it was before him that I was admitted to the bar on January 9, 1890. After his retirement from the bench he again became associated with his old law firm of Clarkson, Congdon & Hunt, and eventually left Omaha. His whereabouts I am unable to say. Herbert J. Davis. Herbert J. Davis served as judge of the District Court from 1892 to 1893, after which time he left Omaha and went east. In 1898 he was, by President McKinley, tendered a place in the Philippine Islands as one of the judges of the Court of First Instance. Owing to ill health he declined the position. Judge Davis was an exceptionally bright lawyer and an all "round genteel gentleman. I had the pleasure of having been defeated by him for the school board in the spring of 1886, yet that never stood in the way of the warm friendship which existed betAveen us during our long acquaintanceship. Judge Davis was at one time associated with Judge AV. W. Keysor as law partner; afterwards with Henry D. Estabrook, now of New York and a candidate for president of the Ignited States subject to action of the republican convention of 1916. Judge Davis died about 1909. Frank S. Irvine. Frank S. Irvine served as judge of the District Court from 3891 to 1893. ' . Judge Irvine had lived in Nebraska but a short time prior to his having been elected to the bench. He came here from OMAHA MEMORIES 123 Ithaca, N. Y. After his retirement from the bench he was ap- pointed one of the commissioners of the Supreme Court of this state, after which time he accepted a position as professor in some department of the Cornell University, which position he was filling when I last heard of him. W. W. Keysor. W. AV. Kevsor served as judge of the District Court from 1892 to 1902. Judge Keysor, at the time of his election, resided in Nebraska but a short time, but his pleasant disposition and manly conduct soon Avon for him a warm spot in the hearts of the people of this city and county. He was a slow, easy-going man, ever ready and willing to cheer and encourage the robust as well as the invalid, and while he made a good record as a judge, I have often thought that he would have made a great and good minister of the Gospel, as he possessed the essential requirements that go to make a model minister. After his retirement from the bench he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he accepted a position as a professor in a law col- lege, which position, as I am informed, he still holds. Cunningham R. Scott. Cunningham R, Scott served as judge of the District Court from 1892 to 1899. ' He was the product of A. P. A.ism, and when the air which they polluted became clarified, he ceased to breathe and died it is claimed a natural death in 1911, a lasting example to all bigots. Charles Ogden. Charles Ogden served as judge of the District Court from 1892 to 1893, having been appointed by Governor Boyd to fill a vacancy. Judge Ogden came to Omaha in 1882 from Louisiana, was a staunch democrat and soon became very popular because of his political activity. He made a good, clean record during his term. Judge Ogden was a good lawyer, a graduate of one of the leading colleges of the south, and ranked high as a lin- guist. After his retirement from the bench he resumed the practice of the laAV. He died in 1908. 12-^ O M A H A M E MO R I E S W. C. Walton. Judge Walton served as judge of the District Court from 1893 to 1895. Of Judge Walton I knew very little, but from the courteous treatment which he gave to all who had business in his court, I am free to say that he made a very good judge. During the time he was on the bench he resided at Blair, where, I believe, he still resides. Edward R. Duffie. Edward R. Duffie served as judge of the District Court from 1893 to 1896. I was intimately acquainted with Judge Duffie, probably more so than with some of the other judges who served on the bench, he being my neighbor for three years. I met the judge in 1886, shortly after he came to Nebraska from Iowa, when he formed a partnership with Luther R. Wi-ight, Avith offices on the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Douglas Streets. This partnership lasted but a short time, when he formed a partnership with Geo. W. Ambrose under the name of Ambrose & Duffi(^ M'ith offices in the old Union Block, known as the Wabash Corner, Fifteenth and Farnam Streets. Shortly after his retirement from the bench in 1896, he ran for congress on the democratic ticket, but was defeated by Dave Mercer. Judge Duffie resumed the practice of law after his retire- ment from the bench until appointed one of the commissioners of the Supreme Court of this state. While acting in such capacity, he became a candidate for Supreme Judge, but was defeated in the repul)lican state convention by a small majority. After retir- ing as commissioner he moved to some small town in the west- ern part of this state, where he remained biit a short time, mov- ing to Los Angeles, where in 1913 he died. Judge Duffie made a good judge, and was beloved by all who knew him. Georg-e W. Ambrose. George W. Ambrose served as judge of the District Court from January, 1894, to January 1, 1895. Judge Ambrose was one of Omaha's early settlers, and was ranked as a lawyer of unusual ability, who never sought office but Avas content in the practice of his profession. The short time he spent on the bench was the only office he had ever filled or ever sought. OMAHAMEMORIES 125 His entire time on the bench was spent in the equity branch of the court, where he rendered many important decisions in matters involving the title to real estate. On his retirement from the bench he moved to Chicago in 1897, and shortly thereafter died. Joseph H. Blair. Joseph H. Blair served as judge of the District Court from 1894 to 1896. He came to Nebraska about the year 1889, during which time he practiced law until his elevation to the bench. He was an old fogy, in fact a dreamy old imbecile, who possessed no powers of precision or decision, who secured, as he himself had informed me, his nomination in a republican con- vention through the influence of the leaders of the A. P. A. 's and for a consideration of $500. One short term is all he served. He died soon thereafter. Clinton N. Powell. Clinton N. Powell served as judge of the District Court from 1896 to 1899. Prior to his election to the bench he was a law partner of Wni. Gurley, and at the time of his election was attorney for the school board. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and mingled very little with the public. He made a good judge, and on his retirement moved to the southern part of this state, where about 1908 he died. Jacob L. Fawcett. Jacob L. Fawcett served as judge of the District Court from 1896 to 1903. He was defeated for a third nomination by Judge W. A. Redick, after which he served for a number of years as Supreme Court commissioner of this state. He was in 1910 elected one of the judges of the Supreme Court of this state and is now serving in that capacity, his time expiring January, 1917. He will be a candidate for chief justice of the Supreme Court at the 1916 primary. Judge Fawcett came to Omaha in 1887 from Galesburg, Illinois, and practiced his profession here until his election to the district bench. He served with distinction in the Union army during the rebellion. He now resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. He made a good record as district judge. 126 OMAHAMEMORIES W. W. Slabauffh. W. W. Slabaugh served as judge of the District Court from 1896 to 1904. Prior to his electiou to the bench he practiced la^y in Omaha and for some time was a law partner of S. R. Rush, during which time he was appointed deputy county attorney of Douglas County. While serving in that capacity he was elected to the district bench. Judge Slabaugh discharged the duties of this office without noise, ostentation or notoriety. On retiring from the bench, and after a period of two years, or in 1895, he was elected county attorney of Douglas County, serving one term, having been defeated by James P. English at the following electiou in 1897. As county attorney his administration proved a dismal fail- ure, after which he retired to private life to practice his pro- fession. Ben S. Baker. Ben S. Baker served as judge of the District Court from 1896 to 1902, when he resigned to accept the position of United States judge for the territory of New Mexico, which was given him by President Roosevelt and which he occupied for some- thing like two years. "Whether he was removed from this position by the presi- dent or whether he tendered his resignation voluntarily, is a matter of dispute, and I am in no position to decide, but feel that he should have the benefit of the doubt, owing to the good record which he made upon the be:nch of this district, as well as the creditable record which he made during his term as United States district attorney for this state, and that of his record as a member of the legislature from Jeti'erson County in this state. Judge Baker is a man that has been much abused and mis- understood. This is due no doubt to the fact that he is a big- hearted man, full of combativeness and an exceptionally bright lawyer, ever ready and willing to lend a helping hand to the justly deserving, lu'oad-gauged in his views and always ready and willing to mingle with the plebeians. Judge Baker served three years as corporation counsel for the city of Omaha, resigning that position in December, 1914. He is now engaged in the active practice of the law in this citv. OMAHAMEMORIES 127 Charles T. Dickenson. Charles T. Dickenson served as judge of the District Court from 1896 to 1904. Judge Dickenson during his term of judge resided in Teka- mah, Burt County. He should have been retained on the bench, as he was one of the most capable men that I ever knew on the bench. He was accommodating and courteous to all, and no doubt it was his honesty of purpose and his refusal to submit to the dictation of the mighty powers that prevented his renom- ination to that position. The decision in particular that sealed his judicial doom Avas the one in which he decided against the garbage contractors of Omaha. It appears that the garbage contractors had an exclusive contract with the city of Omaha to dispose of its garbage and for a period of twenty-five years. This contract was so strictly adhered to by the police that poor men who made a living by hauling garbage were arrested, fined and imprisoned, and no man dared move his own garbage. This mat- ter came up before Judge Dickenson on a writ of habeas corpus testing the constitutionality of the ordinance and the contract. The judge held that both the ordinance and the contract were unconstitutional and void. This ired the greedy monopolist and Judge Dickenson was marked for defeat, and his defeat for renomination was ably carried out by one of the most astute and unscrupulous politicians that ever gained a foothold on this side of hell. An appeal was taken in this ease to the Supreme Court of the state and Judge Dickenson was sustained. Judge Dickenson served as city prosecutor of the city of Omaha from May, 1909, to May, 1911, or for three years. He discharged the duties of that position with an efficiency that was never equalled or perhaps never will be. In fact he dignified the position, this with due respect to others who filled the position before or since. He is now practicing his profession in Omaha. Irving F. Baxter. Irving F. Baxter served as judge of the District Court from 1900 to 1903. He resigned from this position to accept the office of United States district attorney for Nebraska, a position ten- dered him by President Roosevelt. Judge Baxter, however, served but a short time in the office, as he suddenly separated himself from it. either voluntarily or otherwise, I am unable to say. Suffice it to say that United States Senator Millard, who secured for him the place, was unable to convince the president that Judge Baxter was the man for the place, or that he should be permitted to serve out 128 OMAHAMEMORIES his term. The result was that another was immediately ap- pointed as his successor. In many respects it might be said of Judge Baxter that he was born under a lucky star. While not having been born great, he had greatness thrust upon him. He came to Omaha, if I remember correctly, about the year 1889 or 1890, Avitli a letter of introduction from United States Senator Hiscock of New York to General Charles F. Mander- son, who secured for him a place in the law firm of Green & Breckenridge of this city. It was but a short time when he was made attorney for the board of education of this city. He being an apt scholar, he soon learned the intricacies of politics and bloomed out for office, and the first opportunity was by him quickly embraced. It came about in this way: The bar of Douglas County was dis- satisfied with the administration of Judge Eller, then county judge, and called a bar meeting for the purpose of making a bar nomination for that office. Charles H. Green was made chairman of the meeting and George A. Day and myself were made tellers. Henry Morrow and Judge Baxter were the can- didates. Baxter won by a majority of one. Judge Baxter, though a republican, secured the democratic nomination and was indorsed by the citizens convention and was elected county judge. He soon forgot the democratic party and proclaimed him- self a full-fledged republican. By so doing, he filled the office for three consecutive terms. Having behind him all this time the influence and support of the B. & M. Eailroad, he experienced no trouble in securing the nomination for district judge, and was sailing with the gale at a rapid pace, when Roosevelt cut his jibboom and he heaved anchor. He is now practicing law in Omaha. Guy R. C. Read. Guy R. C. Read served as judge of the District Court from 1903 to January 1, 1904. Mr. Read was a bar selection, the bar association having met in general mass meeting, selected him, he having no opposi- tion in the meeting. The governor, acting upon the wisdom of the bar associa- tion, appointed him to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Judge Irving Baxter. Judge Read during his term was on the equity bench, and gave universal satisfaction. He is now practicing law in Omaha. OMAHAMEMORIES 129 \ George A. Day. George A. Day, one of the present judges of the District Court, was appointed by Governor Savage in 1903 to fill a vacancy on the bench, since which time Judge Day has con- tinued to serve by reason of repeated elections. He was born in Iowa in 1859 and came to Omaha in 1883, shortly afterwards forming a partnership with W. A. Stow, which law firm was known as Stow & Day. Mr. Stow having died in 1885, the firm name was changed to Day & Day, George A. and Curtis L. Day, brothers. This co- partnership continued until 1895, when George A. was appointed deputy attorney general of this state. In 1901 he was appointed one of the commissioners of the Supreme Court of this state, Avhich position he resigned to accept the appointment to the position which he now holds and will continue to hold, at least until his term expires in January, 1917. Judge Day comes from a family of lawyers, his father hav- ing served for a number of years as chief justice of the state of Iowa, and was such at the time of his death. He is one of the most accommodating and obliging public officials that I have ever met. He is honest and conscientious, and has long held the respect and good-will of all who know him. He is again a candidate for re-election. A. C. Troup. \ A. C. Troup, one of the present judges of the District Court, began his service on the bench in 1904, and has remained in that position by continuous re-elections. Prior to his election as district judge, he served as deputy county attorney of Douglas County for two years. While acting in that capacity he made an enviable record, so much so that he immediately sprang into the limelight of prominence, which won for him with little or no effort on his part the nomination for district judge. How well he has dis- charged the duties of the office is attested by the fact that he has been repeatedly elected to that position. Judge Troup was born at Saratoga, N. Y., of Scotch par- entage in 1854 and spent his youth in northeastern Ohio, coming to Nebraska in 1873. He studied law at the University of Iowa, where he graduated in 1879. He served one term as a member of the Nebraska legislature in the session of 1885, where he served as chairman of the judiciary comuiittee. He made an excellent record in that session. 130 OMAHAMEMORIES He came to Omaha in 1879, where he practiced law until his election to the bench. He is a candidate to succeed himself at the election in 1916. E. M. Bartlett. E. M. Bartlett served as judge of the District Court from 1893 to 1894. He was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Ben S. Baker. At the end of his term he sought re-election, but was defeated at the primaries, after which he moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he is now engaged in the practice of law. Howard Kennedy. Howard Kennedy served as judge of the District Court from 1904 to 1913, when he resigned to accept an appointment on the board of public institutions of this state, the appointment being made by Governor Moorhead. Judge Kennedy is an Omaha boy, having been born and raised in Omaha, and the only graduate of the Omaha High School to fill the position of judge of the District Court with one exception, that of Judge W. A. Redick. His family was one of the early settlers of Omaha, and for a number of years his father was connected with the Omaha schools, where in turn the judge's brother, Alfred, Avas a member of the school board, filling the position at the time of his death in 1915. Howard Kennedy School in Omaha was named after the father of Judge Kennedy. Judge Kennedy made a good, clean record while judge of the District Court and his resignation was much re- gretted by all who knew him. He is now serving in the capacity to which he was appointed. A. L. Sutton. Abraham L. Sutton served as judge of the District Court from 1904 to February, 1915, when he resigned to resume the practice of the law. Judge Sutton was born in Oregon, Wisconsin, in 1866, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Coming to Ne- braska in 1887 when but a young man, locating on a homestead in Brown County, Nebraska. Whether by reason of a sudden flash of prosperity or adverse climatic conditions, I do not know (but I am inclined to believe the latter) he left Brown County in 1898 and located in South Omaha. There he began the practice of law, where he encountered the usual struggle of the poor young lawyer and a stranger in 4 OMAHAMEMORIES 131 a strange town ; yet undismayed he buckled on his armor, con- fident of his own strong will and his integrity of purpose, and he secured not only clients, but gained the confidence and appre- ciation of the people of his city. Judge Sutton prior to his election to the bench, filled by appointment a vacancy on the board of county commissioners of this county. He is a man of unusually good judgment, which qualification he displaj^ed so conspicuousl}^ while discharging the duties of the office of district judge, and his big heart was ever ready to hear and relieve the troubles of the widow and the orphan in distress. To his efforts in a great measure is due the passage of legis- lation beneficial to both mothers and minors, among which may be cited "the law governing wife abandonment and wife deser- tion, the juvenile court law, also the mothers' pension act." The judge was never held in high estimation by the cor- porations or by lawyers who sought the ways that were dark or the tricks that were vain. During his term as judge he sought the office of congress- man from this district in 1910, having secured the nomination with ease. At the election he ran some 5,000 votes ahead of his ticket but was defeated by less than 100 votes, James C. Dahlman hav- ing carried the county on the democratic ticket by 12,000 ma- jority for governor. He gained world-wide fame as the trial judge in the famous Pat Crowe kidnaping case, where Crowe was charged with kid- naping the son of the millionaire packer, Edward Cudahy. In the fall of this year (3915) he filed for the nomination of governor of this state subject to the republican primarv of April, 1916. Willis G. Sears. Willis G'. Sears is one of the present judges of the District Court, commencing his term in 1904 and having been re-elected at each succeeding election thereafter, his term expiring Janu- ary 1, 1917. Judge Sears was born in Ohio August 16, 1860; came to Nebraska June 29, 1879, locating at Decatur, Nebraska; was admitted to the bar in 1884 before Judge E. Wakeley. Served two terms in the Nebraska legislature ; was speaker of the house in the ses.sion of 1901 ; served nine years as mayor of Tekamah, Nebraska, 1889-1901; served nine years on the board of insanity of Burt Countv. 132 OMAHA MEMORIES To know Judge Sears is to like him, though at first sight and on slight acquaintance he would appear to be a mysterious person ; a tall, lean, rawboned man, apparently sullen and gruff, possessing an unusually bright, clear, judicial mind, capable of grasping the most intricate and complicated legal problems; an interesting conversationalist and, on appropriate occasions, one of the most jovial and companionable of men I ever met. Had Judge Sears broken his word he could have been elected United States senator from this state. Judge Sears has made a good record on the bench, having at one time or another filled all of the assigned dockets — law, euqity, criminal and juvenile. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Red Men and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a candidate to succeed him- self at the election in 1916. Wm. A. Redick. William A. Redick served as judge of the District Court from 1904 to 1911, having served two consecutive terms, and having been defeated for renomination in his effort to secure a third term. In February, 1915, he was appointed judge to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge A. L. Sutton. This appoint- ment he received from Governor John H. Moorhead. He is one of the present judges, his term expiring January 1, 1917. Judge Redick is a native son of Nebraska, having been born in Omaha in 1859, having received his early education in the Omaha grade schools and the Omaha High School, after which he entered the law office of his father. Judge John \. Redick. Judge Redick came of an old and honored family of Omaha pioneers, his father, John I. Redick, having settled in Omaha about 1856, where he raised a large and creditable family, of which three were lawyers— William, Charles and Chat. The father of Judge Redick was appointed territorial judge of New Mexico in 1875 by President Grant, during which time the family resided in Denver, Colo. Aside from those few years, in addition to the years 1887-8, when the judge moved to Los Angeles, California, he has resided in Omaha continuously all his life. The Redick family having grown exceptionally wealthy, there is a mistaken idea on the part of many people that Judge Redick is autocratic and aristocratic. This is a mistaken idea, and far from the real facts, as after an acquaintanceship of more than thirty years which I have had the pleasure of enjoying, I can most emphatically refute such an impression or imputation. He is on the contrary an affable, genial and companionable gentlemen, ever ready with heart and hand to assist the deserving. OMAHA MEMORIES 133 His decisions have been logical, fearless and conscientiously arrived at, regardless of his political future, fearing neither prince or pauper, ward boss or corporation. He is a candidate to succeed himself at the 1916 election. Charles Leslie. Judge Charles Leslie Avas elected to the district bench in 1911, and is at present one of the presiding judges thereof, his term expiring January 1, 1917. Judge Leslie Avas born in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 24, 1867, and came to Omaha in 1893, entering the law- office of Jacob L. Fawcett, now on the supreme bench of this state, where he engaged in the practice of law until he entered the office of County Judge Vinsonhaler in the capacity of clerk of the County Court of Douglas County, where he remained for six years. At the end of Judge Vinsonhaler 's term as county judge he was elected his successor, which position he filled for six years, from which he was in 1911 elevated to the district bench. Judge Leslie is' a mild mannered, pleasant and unassuming gentleman, who bears lightly all the honors bestowed upon him and never has abused the powers vested in him. While possibly not as well versed in the law as his associates on the bench, yet he possesses that which often takes the place of legal lore, the gift of common sense properly applied, which in the majority of cases will have attained the ends of justice equally as well. This has been fully illustrated in his case, as he has grown to be one of the most popular judges on the bench. He is a candidate to succeed himself at the 1916 election. James P. English. Judge James P. English is one of the present presiding judges of the District Court, having been appointed to that posi- tion by Governor J. H. Moorhead in June, 1913, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Howard Kennedy. At the general election in 1914 he was elected to the full term which ends January, 1917. He is a candidate to succeed himself at the 1916 election. Judge English was born in Wisconsin September 12, 1859, and came to Omaha in 1880, after graduating from a law college at Kenosha, Wisconsin. After his arrival in Omaha he entered the law office of Judge J. M. Woolworth, where he remained until he entered the law firm of Hall & McCullough, which firm was afterward 134 OMAHAMEMORIES known as Hall, McCullough & English, with offices in the old Omaha National Bank building. In 1902 he severed his con- nection with this firm, having been elected county attorney of Douglas county, serving until 1904, when he was defeated for re-election by Judge Slabaugh. In 1906 he was again elected county attorney, serving repeated and consecutive terras to 1912, when he became a private citizen by and through his own con- sent. He practiced law during that period of time, when he was again called to duty by his appointment to the district judgeship. Judge English is a brother of Rev. Father English, formerly parish priest of St. Philomena's Cathedral when it w^as located on Ninth and Howard Streets for a number of years. He is exceptionally popular with all classes, made a splendid record as county attorney and is making a like record as a dis- trict judge. He is an able lawyer and exceptionally good-natured at all times and under all circumstances, and is ever ready to accommodate both lawyers and litigants in and out of season. Judge English has the record of having the largest family of any man on the bench, being the father of twelve children, all living but one. Lee S^. Estelle. Judge Lee S. Estelle served his first term as district judge from 1891 to 1892, filling a vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Judge Groff, the appointment being made by Governor Boyd. He was elected to that office in 1899, and has remained on the bench since his first election. He is one of the present judges whose terms expire in January, 1917, Judge Estelle has served longer on the bench than any other judge in the history of this judicial district. He is a candidate to succeed himself at the 1916 primary. Lee S. Estelle "was born at Madisonville, Hamilton County, Ohio, December 25, 1847, came to Nebraska in 1873, locating at Red Cloud. He entered the Union army when but a boy six- teen years of age and served during the entire rebellion. Before being admitted to the bar he was for a few years in the employ of the government as mail agent. In 1883 he located at Blair, Neb., where he opened a law office and engaged in the practice at that place until 1885, when he was elected district attorney for this judicial district, after which he located in Omaha. The report of the district convention in which he secured his nomination against his opponent, Henry D. Estabrook, and other incidents of his campaign for the office of district attorney will be found in these Recollections of the events of 1884. OMAHAMEMORIES 135 Judge Estelle is an able criminal lawyer, in fact, an all-round good lawyer; is of an even, judicial temperament, very accom- modating, independent and impartial in his judicial demeanor, -jovial affable and an all-round genial and companionable gen- tleman, and has made an exceptionally good record as district judge. 136 OMAHAMEMORIES CHAPTER XLII. COUNTY OFFICIALS. The following named men have served as county attorneys of Douglas County from 1879 to 1917 : N,. J. Burnham 1880-1882 — District Attorney. .Republican Park Godwin 1882-1884 — District Attorney. .Democrat Lee Estelle 1884-1886 — District Attorney. .Republican Ed W. Simeral 1886-1888— County Attorney. .Republican T. J. Mahoney 1888-1892— County Attorney. .Democrat J. L. Kaley 1892-1894— County Attorney. .Republican Howard H. Baldrige. .1894-1898 — County Attorney. .Republican George W. Shields 1898-1902— County Attorney. .Democrat James P. English 1902-1904 — County Attorney. .Democrat W. W. Slabaugh 1904-1906— County Attorney. .Republican James P. English 1906-1912 — County Attorney. .Democrat George Maguey 1912-1916 — County Attorney. .Democrat Present incumbent. The following named men have served as county clerks of Doug- las County from 1879 to 1917: John R. Manchester 1880-1881 Republican John Baumer 1882-1883 Republican H. T. Leavit 1884-1885 Republican Gustav Beneke 1885 [by appointment] .Democrat C. P. Needham 1886-1887 Republican M. D. Roche 1888-1889 Democrat Pete O'Mallev 1890-1891 Democrat Fred J. Sackett 1892-1894 Republican M. H. Redfield 1896-1897 Republican David M. Haverly 1898-1900 Republican Harry C. Miller 1902-1903 Democrat John C. Drexel 1904-1905 Democrat David M. Haverly 1906-1911 Republican Frank Dewey 1912-1916 Republican Present incumbent. The men who have served as clerks of the District Court of Doug- las County from 1879 to 1917 are as follows : Wm. J. Ijams* 1880-1888 Democrat Frank E. Moores 1888-1896 Republican Albian Frank 1896-1900 Republican Frank Broadwell 1900-1908 Democrat Robert Smith 1908-1916 Republican Present incumbent. *By appointment for one year by Judge Savage. OMAHA MEMORIES 137 The following named men have served as county judges of Doug- las County from 1879 to 1917: A. M. Chadwick 1880-1883 [died in office] .Republican J. H. McCullough 1883-1887 Republican Geo. W. Shields 1882-1892 Democrat J. W. Eller 1893-1895 Republican Irving F. Baxter 1896-1902 Republican D. M. Vinsonhaler 1903-1909 Republican Charles Leslie 1910-1912 Republican Bryce Crawford 1912-1916 .Republican Present incumbent. The men who have served as Douglas County treasurers from 1879 to 1917 are as follows: Wm. Heintze 1880-1881 \ .Republican John Rush 1882-1885 Republican Henry Bolln 1886-1889 Republican Adam Snyder. 1890-1891 Democrat H. B. Trey 1892-1895 Republican George Heimrod 1896-1899 Republican G. Fred Elsasser 1900-1903 Democrat Robert Fink 1904-1907 Republican Frank A. Furey 1908-1911 .Republican Wm. G. Ure 1912-1916 .Republican Present incumbent. The following named men have served as sheriffs of Douglas County from 1879 to 1917 : George H. Guy 1879-1880 Democrat David N. Miller 1881-1884 Republican Wm. Coburn 1885-1889 ; . .Republican John F. Boyd 1890-1891 Democrat George A. Bennett 1892-1893 Republican John C. Drexel 1894-1895 Democrat John McDonald 1896-1899 Republican John Powers 1900-1905 Democrat John McDonald 1906-1907 Republican Edwin Brailey 1908-1911 Republican F. J. McShane 1912-1916 Democrat Present incumbent. 138 OMAHA MEMORIES County Commissioners. The following have served as county commissioners of Douglas County from 1879 to 1917 : Fred Drexel Wm. Turner A. L». Sutton L. M. Anderson Major Paddock Peter Corrigan J. P. Connolly Charles L. Van Camp Richard O'Keefe Tom Hoctor W. I. Kierstead George Tinne G. A. Williams Henry Ostrum Wm. Knight Peter Hofelt John Jenkins Wm. G. Ure F. W. Corliss James McArdle A. M. Steinburg Jeff W. Bedford and the present incumbents: John Lynch Henry McDonald Tom O'Connor Frank C. Best Gus Harts The following county recorders of deeds have served as such from the creation of the office in 1888 to 1917: ~ Charles P. Needhani Harry P. Deuel T. A. Megeath Frank W. Bandle Peter E. Elsasser Harry Pierce Present incumbent. OMAHAMEMORIES 139 CHAPTER XLIII. POLICE JUDGES. Patrick 0. Hawes was police judge when I came to Omaha in 1880. He was somewhat of a unique character and withal a genial and companionable man ; a neat, tidy and tasty dresser, always wearing a silk vest and white, stiff-bosom shirt. The last ten years of his life I learned to know him very well, and whether in public or private life I can say that if he was your friend he was truly loyal, and as an enemy he was equally bit- ter. It was no unusual thing for him to fine a prisoner while sitting at a beer table, on the statement of a friend who related the facts to him, sticking the fine in one pocket and the costs in the other. The fines at that time went to the state and the costs in payment of his salary. He was defeated for re-election by Gustav Beneke, a democrat, in 1882. He died in 1904. leaving a wife and no children. Gustave Beneke succeeded Pat Hawes at the city election in the spring of 1882. He was engaged in the insurance busi- ness at the time of his election and, while a genial and popular, heavy-set German, he possessed no special (pialifications for the position, yet he managed to discharge the duties of his office to the satisfaction of the general public. He served but one term, declining a second nomination. To him belongs the honor of being the only democrat to hold this office from 1880 to this writing. A. M. Stenburg was at the time of his election as successor to Judge Beneke in 1885 a justice of the peace from the First ward of Omaha. In addition to that he was agent for steam- ship companies, with offices at Tenth and Jackson Streets. Judge Stenburg 's conduct of his new office was characterized by the use of good horse sense in the solution of the many vexing prob- lems that came before him. It was during his term that the agitation for the Sunday closing of saloons came up, this sub- ject being strenuously advocated by George L. Miller, editor of the Omaha Herald, and Ed. Rosewater, editor of the Bee, the police judge being made the butt of their attacks. Numerous arrests were made, but all demanded and Avere given jury trials, resulting invariably in acquittal, which judgments did not sat- isfy the two editors. To show these two gentlemen that he was doing his duty he selected a jury on which were both of the kicking editors, Miller and Rosewater. This was one of the plainest cases of a violation of the law. The jury deliberated for more than six hours and returned with a verdict of "not guilty," which satisfied both editors, and no further howl from 140 OMAHAMEMORIES them Avas ever heard, and Judge Steiiburg finished the balance of his term in pursuing the even tenor of his way. He did not seek renomination, but afterwards served two terms as county commissioner of Douglas County. He was born in Sweden and was a credit to his race. He died in 1912. Louis Berka succeeded Judge Stenburg at the city election in May, 1907. Before his election as police judge he was justice of the peace, having held the office for two years, being elected from the First and Second Avards of Omaha, Avith offices in the Cunningham Block, Thirteenth and Jackson Streets. The city elections Avere, by an act of the legislature, changed from May to December, thus leaving Judge Berka nearlj^ three years in one term, retiring in Januarj^ 1890, and not being a candidate for second term. He Avas succeeded by Lee Helsley. Judge Lee Helsley, Avho took his seat as police judge Janu- ary 1, 1890, Avas, before his election, a ncAvspaper reporter on the Omaha Republican, and prior to that time Avas a justice of the peace from the Third Avard of Omaha, ha\'ing held his office in the old Karbach Block on Fifteenth and Douglas Streets. While police judge he Avas unfortunate in haA'ing to render a decision in a case of assault and battery, Avhich Avas the outcome of a religious feud then existing in Douglas County. It appears that on October 20, 1891, the American Protective Association, an anti-Catholic organization, had held a meeting in Garfield Hall, 1515 Howard Street. After adjournment one Jim Murphy, a SAvitehman, made an assault on John N. Westburg, a member of the organization and one of the croAvd. A complaint Avas filed against Murphy in the police court, charging him Avith dis- turbing the peace by fighting. The contention raised by his counsel, M. V. Gannon, Avas that there Avas no fight, as Westburg ottered no resistance. Judge Helseley so held and discharged the prisoner. It Avas an indiscrete and unpopular decision, hoAV- ever just, and caused the judge's defeat in the republican con- vention held a fcAV days thereafter. He Avas an honest and con- scientious judge and used much precision in his dealings Avith the unfortunates Avho came before his tribunal of justice. The defeat Avhich he sustained in that convention almost broke his heart, he being little or no good for any calling thereafter, and died August 14, 1906. I Avas one of the pallbearers at his funeral. Following Judge Helsley as police judge came Judge Berka, AA^ho defeated Helsley in the republican convention. He took his seat January 1, 1892, and served tAvo consecutive terms, or until January 1, 1896. FolloAving Judge Berka came Samuel I. Gordon, Avho on January 1, 1896, took his office as police judge. The legislature of 1897, having revised the city charter, caused the election to OMAHA MEMORIES 141 be held in May instead of December, as was the law prior thereto. Judge Gordon, having received the republican nomina- tion, was again elected, and served through a stormy period, as well as one of much strenuous effort, this being the year in which the Trans-Mississippi Exposition was held in Omaha. The police and Judge Gordon became at loggerheads, the police contending that the judge 'W'as too lenient toward those who were brought before him. This contention on the part of the police, coupled with the then mayor, Frank E. Moores' ambition to run at his will every department of the city, caused the police to treat the police judge with utter contempt. This was continued until January, 1899, when the city council, under the direction of Mayor Moores and City Attorney W. J. Connell, filed charges against Judge Gordons. A mock trial was given him and his seat was declared vacant. He appealed to the District Court and the trial judge, Ben S. Baker, sustained the action of the city council as per agreement, he holding that it was not within the province of a police judge to suspend sentences when once imposed— a rank and raw decision. On appeal, however, to the Supreme Court, Judge Gordon was sustained and reinstated. While being deprived of his office the position was filled by the mayor appointing Wm. R. Learn, a justice of the peace, to fill the vacancy ad interim, but before Judge Gordon returned Acting Judge Learn on March 4, 1899, on stepping from the bench, keeled over. I caught him in my arms as he was falling. He expired in less than one minute. Heart failure was the cause of his death. Judge Gordon resumed his seat on the bench and served out his term. In May, 1900, the republican convention, through the scheming of Frank E. Moores, defeated him for renomination, and in his place nominated B. F. Thomas. Feeling that a grave injustice had been done the old veteran, I secured his nomination in the county populist convention, and appeared before the democratic convention, then in session, and there secured his indorsement at their hands. The election being held. Judge Gordon was triumphantly elected and served his two years' term. In November, 1901, Judge Berka was again the nominee of the county republican convention and was elected, defeating Judge Gordon, who was the democratic nominee. Judge Berka, succeeding himself, served until his term expired, January 1, 1906. On the completion of his last term as police judge, he had served in that capacity to within a few months of eleven years — not consecutively, but as a whole — and of his administra- tion it must be said that it was characterized by good judgment, honesty and efficiency, He had a judicial mind and tempera- ment, such as justly befits a man for police judge of a large western city. He carried no prejudices and displayed no favor- itism — all races, colors and creeds looked alike to him. I tried 142 OMAHA MEMORIES mau}^ cases before him, and one of the means I had of knowing in advance what his decision would be was by the manner in which he would revolve a paper weight on his desk. If it re- volved rapidly, my client was guilty; if otherwise, he was dis- charged. After leaving the bench he served one term of three years in the Omaha city council. In this connection it might be well to state that the office of police judge having in the Gordon case been declared a constitutional office, the election for that office was changed from a city to a state or county election. On January 1, 1906, Bryce Crawford took his seat as police judge. He had prior to that been twice elected justice of the peace, a position which he resigned to practice law. He served three terms as police judge. In his candidacy for his last term in 1909 I was defeated by him at the primary for that office. Of Judge Crawford it can be truthfully said that if ever a man was intended by nature for a judicial position it was he. With- out noise, ostentation or display, he discharged the duties of his office to the satisfaction of the general public. Since retir- ing from that office he has twice been elected countj^ judge of Douglas County, a position which he holds at present, the duties of which he has discharged to the satisfaction of the general public. He is a candidate to succeed himself in 1916. On Jnuary 1, 1912, Charles E. Foster took his seat as police judge, having defeated John J. Mahoney, the democratic nomi- nee. Before his election Mr. Foster had at one time served as deputy county attorney of Douglas County. He was the choice and selection of Tom Dennison and Victor Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee. This selection was made on the pretense that Mn. Foster, being a member of the Y. M. C. A., they could easily secure for him the church vote, feeling that they had a cinch on the rough element. However, he was not long police judge when he began to assert his independence, and a mighty howl went up from his sponsors, and his official life was made a tor- ment by and through the officials of the police department. As in the case of Judge Gordon, his was a "rocky road." In the fall of 1914 he was again nominated and elected, after one of the hardest fights ever made by any candidate for office, defeat- ing R. W. Madden, the democratic candidate. For the second time he filled this office, his term expiring in January, 1917. That Judge Foster is an honest and conscientious man no one will deny; that he intends to do what is right is generally con- ceded, but having mingled with the better element all his life, coupled Avith the fact that his health was poor, prevented him from possessing that broadness of mind and even temperament so essential to one filling the position of police magistrate of such a large city where so much misery is daily brought before OMAHAMEMORIES 143 him. It may be possible for him to change his disposition before his term of office expires, but up to the present time he is far below the standard of some previous police judges. Were it not for the pardoning power exercised by the mayor his lack of judgment would cost the taxpayers many thousands of dollars and much needless suffering to the wives and families of men upon whom he imposes needless sentences. 144 OMAHAMEMORIES CHAPTER XLIV. OMAHA STREETS. Having given my recollections of many of the incidents and occurrences that have taken place during the past thirty-six years in Omaha, more particularly the political events, which, in my judgment, form the greatest factor in the upbuilding of a nation, state, county or city, I will now note a few of the many changes that have taken place in our business and residence streets during that period of time. This for the benefit of the younger generation that has grown up here, for those who are absent as well as the newcomer. In doing this, I will confine myself to the downtown streets, namely: Leavenworth, Jones, Jackson, Howard, Harney, Farnam, Douglas, Dodge, Capitol Avenue. Leavenworth Street. To those who do not know how LeavenAvorth Street got its name, will state that it acquired it because it was the old road over which the pioneer freight haulers passed going west from Leavenworth, Kansas. Like many of our streets, it Avas never thought of as becoming a business street, and as a matter of fact there was but one business house on the entire street when I came to Omaha. That was a two-story brick building on the corner of Eighth Street, used at that time and for years after- ward as a grocery store, run by Hendricksen and Ben Madsen, in 1880. The Southern Hotel, a very pretentious frame build- ing stood on the corner of Ninth and this street, and was in the early 80 's a very fashionable hotel. It was owned by Mrs. Mc- Carthy, mother of Miss McCarthy who was at one time principal of the Pacific Street School. At this writing that building is still standing and is owned and occupied by the Schlitz Brewing Company, which bought it in 1892 for $12,000. The next busi- ness block built on that street was in 1884, by the Moline Plow Company, at 822 Leavenworth Street. A part of the lot on which it is located was owned by Mike Hurt, an old German, who lived there for years and was night watchman at the Union Pacific freight house. The next business house erected was by the John Deere Plow Company in 1885 on the northwest cor- ner of Ninth Street, and was owned by Aleck McGavick. Then came the William M. Bushman storehouse at No. 1013, which was erected about 1883 and at that time was the largest and most spacious building used for that purpose. About the year 1885 W. A. L. Gibbon and James Eddy erected the brick build- ing at No. 1215, on that street, where they conducted a whole- sale hardware store until 1888, at which time Mr. Eddy died OMAHAMEMORIES 145 and the business was discontinued, and since then Wagner Bros, have occupied it as an implement house. At No. 1307 the Pabst Brewing Company constructed their brick building and still oc- cupy it as a storehouse and distributing point for Nebraska. In 1891 the Booth Oyster Company erected its present storehouse at No, 1308. Prior to its construction there were for years a number of small frame buildings on the lot. The old two-story brick building on the northwest corner, known as the Ainscow Block, was built in 1885 by Ed Ainscow from the brick of which the old Douglas County Court House, on Sixteenth and Farnam Streets, was built. The Gund Brewing Company now occupies the northeast corner of Fourteenth Street. It is a one-story brick, running the entire length of the lot, was erected in 1906 and is used as the distributing point for that company for Iowa and Nebraska. The lot was purchased from the heirs of Jerry Mahoney, an old resident of this city. The Eggerss-0 'Flyng Company brick building at Fifteenth and Leavenworth Streets was erected in 1906. This is one of the largest box factories west of Chicago. The Bingham block on Seventeenth Street is a large three-story brick flat and was erected in 1885. It was built by Robert Bingham, father of W. W. Bingham, who was an old resident of Omaha and for many years engaged in the commission business. The two-story brick on the southeast cor- ner of Twentieth Street was built by John F. Belim, an old resi- dent here and former member of the city council. It was built about 1886. The brick buildings on the lot from Twenty-third to Twenty-fourth Streets on the south side of the street were erected about 1886. The lot was formerly owned by Mrs. Patrick Toner, on which she lived for many years. The brick building on the southeast corner of Park Avenue was erected in 1890 by John O'Keefe a former railroad contractor. The mortgage on the property was foreclosed in 1897, when he lost the place. In this connection, it might be well to state that this street in 1885 underwent a heavy change of grade, from Sixteenth to Thirty-sixth Streets, where in places a change from ten to twenty feet was made. This was brought about through the efforts of Michael Lee, then a member of the Omaha city council. Jones Streetw Jones Street was named after Omaha's first postmaster, the man of whom it is said "carried all of the town's mail in his hat." He also laid out the city in its first plat. This street in 1880 fronted residences large and small, from the Missouri River to Sixteenth Street. The first enterprise was that of the Omaha Electric Light Plant on Sixth Street, erected in 1889. If I am not mistaken, Fred Drexel's stone yard and John Powers' cooper shop preceded this. On Seventh Street there was Benson's iqe house, also that of the Arctic Ice Company. 146 OMAHA MEMORIES The latter places have been supplanted by larger and more sub- stantial warehouses. The first substantial buildings to be erected on this street were those of Parliu, Orendorff & Martin, at No. 908, used as an implement house. Adjoining this was a wholesale seed house. This concern, if I recall it cor- rectly, failed in 189-4 through some disagreement with J. Ster- ling Morton, then secretary of agriculture, who withdrew the patronage of the government from the house. Paxton & Galla- gher erected a large building adjoining this one on the west in 1892. On the south side of this street, at No. 1011, G. A. Lind- quest erected a five-story brick warehouse in 1886. This was about completed when it was blown down by a heavy wind. Further west, where the Bemis factory is located, on the north side of the street, Nos. 1008-10-12, were a number of small cot- tages, erected about 1883, when the old creek bed was filled. At No. 1209 John Mulvahill erected a five-story brick ware- house in 1887. There were originally a number of small cot- tages on this lot. Where the Anheuser-Busch building now stands there was an old boarding house, run and owned by a Mrs. 'Grady, at No. 1219. On the north side between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets, Patrick Quinlan resided in a nice cottage. On this ground now stands a warehouse. In the middle of the block was Haarman's old pickle factor}' and the residence of Stacy Crowley, once teacher at the Omaha High School, now teaching in Chicago. Miss Crowley was born here. Charles Westergaard, the ex- pressman, lived adjoining her for a number of years until about 1887. At No. 1305 there was a residence. Mrs. Ish in 1899 erected a large brick warehouse on this lot. On the lot adjoin- ing this on the west John Walsh lived for more than thirty years. On the southwest corner next to this George Muldoon had his blacksmith shop. These two lots are now occupied by the Cudahy Packing Company as a wholesale house. On the northeast corner of Fourteenth Street and this street J. J. Hannigheu erected in 1910 a large three-story brick ware- house for his plumbing supplies. This lot was vacant for more than thirty years save for a small cottage in the rear. On the northwest corner of Fourteenth stands an old, tAvo-story, large frame house. This was the old home of Vincent Burkley, who lived there from 1869 to the date of his death in 1892. His fam- ily, consisting of Frank, Mrs. Burkhart, Mrs. Bethka, Mrs. C. Leary, mother of Attorney Ed. F. Leary, and Harry Burkley were all born there, where they resided until the death of the father. This building is now used as a boarding and rooming house, and is in much need of repair. O M A H A M E M O R I E S 147 On the northwest corner Dr. Peabody lived in a magnificent residence. When the street was graded in 1884, the house was some twenty feet above the street level. The taxes incident to grading and paving were so expensive that the doctor was forced to secure a loan from A. J. Hanscom, who in 1899 foreclosed on it, and the property M'as subdivided. The David Cole Cream- ery and Commission House now occupy the corner. The old house still stands on the west side of the lot and is used as a rooming house. On the adjoining lot west of this Julius Nagle, who married Maggie Lange, built a handsome residence and lived there for four years, when the house was by them moved away. The lot is now vacant. On the north side of the street adjoining the Burkley prop- erty stands some fifteen feet above the street what was once a choice residence owned by Terry Mahoney for many years, with commissary department of the government. He resided there from 1884 to 1888. The building is now used as a rooming house and, like the Burkley home, is in much need of paint and paper. On the northeast corner of Fourteenth and this street George A. Joselyn is erecting a five-story brick building to be used as a printing establishment. This was once the property and residence of Mr. Powell, for a number of years a justice of the peace in Omaha. On the southwest corner of Fourteenth and this street is a vacant lot where once stood the beautiful residence of Dr. Conkling. It was built and occupied by him about the year 1870. The house has been torn down. The doe- tor was once one of Omaha's foremost physicians and is still living but has long since retired from practice. The Swartz Printing Company now occupies the southwest corner of this lot with a two-story brick building. Jackson Street. Jackson Street derived its name from President Jackson. About 1887 the Union Pacific local freight house was established on Ninth and this street. Prior to that John A. Wake- field was the owner of a lumber yard on that spot, on a part of which was located one of Omaha's first grist mills and grain elevators, run by Latham Davis. On the northwest corner of Ninth Street was erected in 1886 the Ames Block, one of the largest wholesale houses in the city. Prior to its erection there were a number of small cottages on the lot. On the southwest corner of Ninth Street stands an old frame building now and for years used as a saloon. It was built in 1866 by Mike Dee, and for a number of years was occupied as his residence ; the heirs still own this property. The small houses on the south side between Ninth and Tenth Streets are used as residences, the purpose for which they were erected some forty years ago. 148 OMAHAMEM OKIES The southwest corner of Eleventh and this street, now a vacant lot, was for years the home of Michael Lavin, who died in 1888. On the northwest corner, where now stands the engine house, was the frame residence of Ed. Callahan, who died in 1907. The other frame houses on that side of the street were owned by A. D. Jones and now belong to Frank Burkley. After their removal he erected a substantial brick printing establish- ment. The small brick building adjoining this property was for a number of years occupied by L. C. Huntington & Son. The basement of it was the first headquarters occupied by the Salvation Ai-my in 1882. On the south side were the residences of many of Omaha's old settlers, notably those of Tom Harring- ton and Dennie Shannahan. On the next corner west stood for years a Jewish synagogue called the "Bar Nar Israel." The property was afterward purchased by Joe Garneau. On the northwest corner of Twelfth and this street was a vacant lot owned by John Mulvihill, who in 1883 sold it to the "Garneau Cracker Company," for which purpose it is still used. West of this lot stands the residence of Larry Mangin, some twenty feet above grade. Mr. Mangin was for years employed at the government headquarters distributing mail. He and his mule were familiar figures on our streets. On the north side of this street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, stand four frame buildings. The one at No. 1310 was for years the residence of Dennis Cunningham. The smaller one was for a long time occupied by the Cohns, of which the merchant tailor Avas a part of the family. Cun- ningham owned the property. The houses at Nos. 1314-16 are owned by Patrick Manning. I lived at 1314 for four years, from 1883 to 1887. Mr. Manning resided at No. 1316. At that time this property was among the choicest of Omaha's residences. I had as neighbors Meyer Hellman, the clothier, and Andrew Riley, of Riley Bros., wholesale liquor firm. On the south side of this block were a number of small houses owned by Tom ]\Iur- ray. This entire half block is now occupied by the Skinner Manufacturing Company Avith a six-story brick building. On the northwest corner of Fourteenth and Jackson Avas formerly located a tAvo-story frame building used for years as a boarding house. It Avas called the "XorthAvestern Hotel" and run by Charles Daugherty. I boarded Avith them in 1882. That corner and the residence Avest of it, Avhere AndreAV Murphy lived, and the adjoining lot, on Avhich Mr. FeuAviek lived, are noAv occupied hy AndrcAv Murphy & Son as an automobile factory. The lot farther Avest on the corner Avas the old home- stead of W. J. Kennedy, implement dealer. This lot is noAV vacant. On the south side of this block, Avhere the iron Avorks are noAv located and knoAA'u as No. 1411, Avas the former resi- O M AHAMEMORIES 149 dence of Michael Laliey, father of Dan Lahey, now of the Omaha detective force. On the south side of the next block, where the Kimball laundry now stands, was for years a vacant lot owned by Charles H. Brown. I was offered this lot in 1883 for $1,500, Mr. Brown to give me ten years in which to pay for it. To my sorrow, I declined the offer, and the lot at this writing, were it vacant, would bring $18,000 — another proof, if any be needed, to sustain the fact that one's hindsight is not as good as their foresight. On the southwest corner of Fourteenth was formerly the home of Patrick McGovern, father of Bishop McGovern of Cheyenne, Wyo., and for a number of years a priest in the Omaha diocese. This property was sold by Mr. McGovern to Peter Goos, in 1884, upon Avhich he constructed a five-storj^ hotel with stores facing Jackson Street. The old police court and city jail were located on the ground floor and basement of this build- ing from 1889 to 1898. The northwest corner of Fifteenth and this street was the old homestead on which Mr. Baldwin, the house mover, lived for thirty years. The lot adjoining it was the former residence of Dennis Cunningham, who in 1900 sold it to Rome Miller, upon which he erected a part of the Rome Hotel. On the south- east corner of Sixteenth and Jackson Streets was located the old Kennedy homestead. On that spot were born Attorney J. A. C. Kennedy and ''Spike," sons of the late Martin Kennedy. The People's Furniture Company has a twenty-year lease on the property and has erected a five-story brick for its wholesale and retail business. In 1880 Jackson Street from St. Mary's Avenue to Eighth Street was one of the favorite residence streets of the city. In that year it was graded, leveled and filled. The old creek that ran east on the street from Sixteenth Street was filled and the first main sewer in Omaha, was built to take its place. In that year there was a temporary wooden bridge at Thirteenth and this street. It was seldom in use, as the heavy freshets inva- riably kept it on the move. Howard Street. Howard Street derived its name from Colonel Howard, the father-in-law of Henry Farnam, after whom Farnam Street was named. In 1880 it fronted some of the finest residences in Omaha. Commencing on the east at Seventh Street was the res- idence of Herman Kountze, a handsome two-story frame build- ing surrounded by trees and shrubbery. This house was moved to Ninth Street, south of Leavenworth Street, where it is still standing, the grounds being now used and occupied by the B. & M. Railroad as a freight depot. To the east of this property, about one block, was a pond of fresh water where on many an occasion we were wont to take our evening swim. 150 OMAHA MEMORIES On the northwest corner of Eighth and this street stood the old home of Mrs. Hennessey and family. To the west of this house stood the residence of the late John McGinn. Adjoining this on the corner was the home of Mayor Mulcahey, father of the Mulcahey boys, still living in Omaha. This entire half block is now occupied by B^-rne, Hammer & Co., with a six-story brick building. On the southwest corner of Ninth Street stood the first com- mission house in this city. It was a two-story frame building, the business being carried on by D. B. Beamer. Rocco Bros, have since constructed on this lot a five-story brick, used by them as a commission house. On the southeast corner of that block stood a two-story square brick house, for a number of years used and occupied by Tim Foley as a boarding house, afterwards by the Sisters of St. Mary as a home while teaching at St. Philomena's Parochial School, which was located on the northwest corner of Ninth Street, to the Avest of which stood a one-story frame house, and on the corner on the west end of the block facing Tenth Street, stood ]\Iike Parr's drug store. On the southeast corner, facing Ninth Street, there was for years a two-story frame building owner by A. Berthold and run by him as a junk shop. On the west corner of this block, where now stands a creamery, was a two-story frame residence. West of Tenth Street on the northeast corner, was the old European Hotel for many years, but now replaced by a two- story brick, used for the same purpose. West of that was the residence of Theo. Livingston, a pioneer Union Pacific engineer. The building is still standing and is occupied by a number of Italian families. West of that residence was Dr. S. D. Mercer's old home. Before moving to Fortieth and Cumiiig Streets, and for a number of years afterward, while general surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad, he made a part of this building his office. On the south side on the west corner for years stood Tim Foley's boarding house. On the northwest corner of Eleventh and this street, fac- ing Howard Street, were six one-story cottages. They were in 1886 moved off to make room for the present magnificent Mer- cer Block. To the west of this block, facing Twelfth Street, was the two-story frame residence of James U. Woolworth, one of Nebraska's pioneers and leading lawyers. Mr. Woolworth moved in 1882 to Twenty-second Street and St. Mary's Avenue. The Carpenter Paper Company for a number of years occupied this building. It is owned 1\v Woolworth 's widowed daughter, Mrs. Guy Howard, who married the son of General 0. 0. How- ard. There were a number of small frame cottages on the south side of this street, all of which space is now occupied by large brick business houses, the Morse-Cot Shoe Company being the first to place a building of any importance on that side. OMAHAMEMORIES 151 On the northwest corner of Twelfth and this street and for more than 100 feet west stood a few small one-story brown cot- tages. In 1884 Dr,. Mercer built a three-story brick on this cor- ner, which for years was used as a hotel and known as the "Mercer." It was afterwards occupied by the O'Brien Candy Company for several years. On the southwest corner, facing Twelfth Street, stood the residence of Mr. Deleware, who died in 1882. This was a one-story frame, the west part of which was used as a rooming house (I roomed there in 1881-2). There is on this lot at this writing a one-story brick used as a printing house. On the lot east of that was the residence of Patrick Hickey, who lived there until 1885, when it was bought by John and James Kilkenney, who erected thereon a four-story brick, which is now used as a commission house. The corner west, facing Thirteenth Street, was in 1881 owned and occupied by Patrick Manning, and on this lot was a blacksmith shop. In 1882 he built there the present three- story brick, which for 3'ears was run by Julius Treitschke as a rooming house and saloon. On the northwest corner, facing Thirteenth Street, in 1881 was a two-story frame building with store, and residence upstairs. It Avas occupied by one Schmidt, who, with his family, lived there and ran a grocery store. He was afterward extensively engaged in the express business. For a number of years the two lots west of this have been occupied by a blacksmith shop and livery stable. On the corner facing Fourteenth, on the same side, is a one-story brick, erected in 1880 and for years run by Mr. Zimmer as a butcher shop. He died in 1896, since Avhich time it has been used as a saloon and run by Charley Loftman. On the south side of the street, be- tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, at 1309-11, stood in 1881 the handsome residence of Frank C. Morgan, who at that time was a partner of Ben Gallagher, afterwards of the firm of Paxton & Gallagher This lot now has a three-stoiy brick erected in 1892 and occupied by the Festner Printing Company. On the lot west of it is a three-story brick, which was built in 1886 and for a time used as a swimming school. Prior to that the lot was used as a beer garden. On the south corner of that side, facing Fourteenth Street, stands the old Homan homestead, a two-story frame building, at one time one of tne finest resi- dences in Omaha. It was built by George Homan, Omaha's pioneer livery stable man. It is now fast going to wreck and ruin, and is occupied as a negro rooming house. The northwest corner, facing Fourteenth Street, was for some thirty years occupied by Andrew Murphy as a horse shoe and wagon shop, and consisted of two one-story frame houses. Mr. Murphy va- cated the place in 1899, after which the Storz Brewing Company erected a two-story brick, the lower part of which is used as a saloon. West of this lot there were for a number of years four frame buildings, all of which have been removed to make way 152 OMAHA MEMORIES for substantial brick business houses. The west lot in that block, facing Fifteenth Street, was the homestead of Joseph Sheeley, for a number of years engaged in the butcher business and later owner of the Sheeley Packing House of Omaha. The six-story building is now located on that lot. On the south side of the street there were eight two-story frame cottages. When the Auditorium was located there they were all sold to that company and moved away. The northwest corner of this street, facing Fifteenth Street, was the home of C. J. Karbach. It was a beautiful place, setting far back on his lot and surrounded by shrubbery of all kinds. In 1885 he moved the house otf and built there in its stead a three-story brick, which for years was used as a hotel and called the ''Karbach" — this building is still used as a hotel, but now called the "Hotel Boquet. " West of this lot is a two-story brick owned by Henry Bushman, and was used for a long time by the Frontier Laun- dry Company, but is now a restaurant. The lot west of this, facing Sixteenth Street, was the home of the late Charles Tur- ner. It was a palatial brick residence of some tw^enty rooms, supported on all sides by beautiful retaining walls. When Mr. Turner moved to his West Farnam Street residence in 1891 it was used as a fashionable boarding house, and in 1906 was purchased and occupied by the Y. M. C. A., who held it but a short time, then sold it to Sunderland Bros., who erected on it a six-story brick building, now used and occupied by a clothing company. On the southwest corner, facing Fifteenth Street, is the three-story brick owned by George Joeelyn, erected in 1896 and used by the Western Newspaper Union. There was on that lot, prior to this building, a one-story frame building. On the lot west of this was a building owned by the Sanborn Stock Food Company, but for a number of years it has been occupied by the Omaha Gas Company as its headquarters. On the lot west of this was built in 1890 a four-story brick. It was called the Garfield Block and contained one of the largest public halls in the city. On the northwest corner of Sixteenth Street was the home of George A. Hoagland, a beautiful residence. On this lot is now a four-story brick occupied by Thompson, Belden & Co. Harney Street. Commencing on Eighth Street there were, on both sides, north and south, many little cottages, all of which during the past ten years have been replaced by four and five-story brick w^arehouses. On the southeast corner of Ninth Street stood the old Cousin's House which, up to 1887, was used as a hotel, built for that purpose in 1864 by the erratic George Francis Train. In 1887 it was converted into a hospital by Dr,. McMinnamy and OMAHAMEMORIES 153 used for that purpose until torn down in 1892 to make room for a large wholesale house. On the southwest corner stood the oldest Catholic Church in Omaha, if not in Nebraska — St. Phil- omena's. For a number of years it was the Catholic Cathedral and diocesan residence of the first Catholic Bishop in Nebraska, the saintly Bishop 'Gorman. This church was torn down in 1909, and on the grounds is erected a large six-story implement house, owned by the John Deere Plow Company'. On the north- west corner of Tenth Street is Fritz Wirth's two-story frame hotel, music hall and saloon, a familiar resort for years. It was there when I came to Omaha. On the southwest corner there is a long one-story brick, built in 1880 and used by Jim Stephen- son as a livery stable. For years it has been occupied by Sam Reese's printing shop. At No. 1211 was erected the first substantial building on this street, built in 1882 by W. J. Broach and for years after- ward occupied by him as a wholesale and retail hardware store. To the west, adjoining this lot, stood tlie old Omaha House, run by Pat Dempsey. The next lot west of this was for years owned by Father Ryan of Columbus, Nebraska, an old recluse who died here in 1897, leaving his vast estate to the Catholic Church and the Bishop of this diocese. On the southeast corner of Thirteenth Street stands a four- story brick, erected in 1880. It was first occupied by Steele, Johnson & Co. as a wholesale grocery store, afterward by Lee Fried & Co., and at this writing by the Baum Iron Company. The reason that I recall so accurately the year it was built is owing to the fact that I earned my first dollar in Nebraska by shoveling the dirt in excavating the foundation, as told in the opening pages of these Recollections. On the north side stood the St. Charles Hotel, a neat two-story frame. The one-story brick at No. 1220 was built by James E. Boyd in 1883. This was his office while owner of the Boyd Packing House and during his last term as mayor of Omaha. On the northwest corner of Thirteenth Street stood for a number of years the second estab- lished implement house in this city, owned by the late W. J. Kennedy. It was torn down in 1889, and on the lot are now two one-story brick buildings used as stores. On the southwest cor- ner of Thirteenth stands a one-story brick, which was in 1880 occupied by Pat 'Toole as a wet goods emporium — or saloon — during all those years and up to the present time, with the excep- tion of the ten years from 1883 to 1893, when it was occupied by S. Johanison as a jewelry store, it has been used as a saloon. The two-story brick on the lot in the rear, or west of it, was used as a fire engine house and a livery stable. The stable was formerly owned by the late Joe Withrow. In 1884 it was used as the democratic hp>adquarters during the Blaine-Cleveland na- tional campaign. The lot west of that was during 1885-6 occu- 154 OMAHAMEMORIES pied by Manning & Hiss, as an implement house, afterwards by Wagner Bros., for a like purpose. On the corner of that block, facing Fourteenth Street, stood a small coop of a brick used for a long time by Scott & McCloud as a barber shop. Recurring to the north side of the street from Thirteenth to Fourteenth Streets, on the northwest corner of Thirteenth Street, the two-story frame building that now stands here was there in 1880 and used for the purpose for which it now and ever has been used — that of a saloon. In 1881 Police Judge Beneke used the upstairs for our police court. It has during all this time been owned by the Bohme estate. The lot west of this is owned by August Pratt, formerly of Omaha, but now of Cali- fornia. In 1895 he erected on the lot a large warehouse and store building. In 1880 this lot had on it a two-story frame used as a hotel and run by Michael Donovan, afterward proprie- tor of the Creighton House. The corner facing Fourteenth Street was occupied by a carriage shoj) used by William Sny- der, manufacturer of fancy buggies. He sold out his business in 1886, and the last heard of him he was in Alaska. The prop- erty was later purchased by the Krug Brewing Company, on which it erected the present Krug Theater. On the southwest corner of Fourteenth Street in 1882 there was a two-story frame building owned by a Mrs. Riley and used as a boarding house. In 1886 this property was bought by the Pacific Express Company, who erected on it the present five- story brick building, and was until 1906 used by them as their express office. In 1914 it was converted into a hotel, for which purpose it is now used. On the lot west of it stood a small brick, used by Watson Bros, as a horse shoeing shop. The north- west corner was for years afflicted with a two-story, unsightly, frame building, used by the owner, Tom Murray, as a store house for everything from a left-hand monkey wrench to an anchor. In the spring of 1885 it was removed and in its place was laid the foundation of what years afterwards was a hotel, known as the "Murray Hotel." It requir.ed seven years to con- struct the ])uilding, it being done by day work, a man and a boy working on it semi-occasionally. West of this and adjoining it was located the 'M. F. Hammond Machine Shop," which went out of business in 1883 and gave Avay to the substantial bricK and business house that now stands on the lot. In this connec- tion it might be Avell to state that this street was graded in 1884 from Fifteenth to Twenty-fourth Street, the contract being awarded o Callahan & Co. This caused a radical change in the condition of things, more especially to permanent buildings. On the northwest corner of Fifteenth stood in 1880 the resi- dence of Judge John I Redick, who lived there until 1882, when it was torn down to make way for the present substantial brick OMAHAMEMORIES 155 buildings, including the Gayety Theater. On the northeast cor- ner of Sixteenth Street, in that block, the Kountze Memorial Church was built in 1884. In 1900 the lot was sold to Judge James Neville for $70,000. This, I think, included the brick edifice. In 1904 he erected on that lot a two story brick, a very unsightly building for such a valuable corner. On the southeast corner of Fifteenth Street in 1880 stood the leading hotel of Omaha, a three-story brick, known as the "Withnell Hotel," which was purchased b}^ Gibson Miller and Richardson in 1884 and converted into a printing establishment, from which place the Omaha Daily Herald was issued. In 1887 the building and newspaper was purchased b.y the then con- gressman from this district, John A. McShane, who in 1890 razed the building and erected in its stead the Creighton Hall and. theater, now the Orpheum. On the southeast corner of the block, facing Sixteenth Street, on a high embankment, was the fine residence of Mr. Balback, one of the head men of the Omaha Smelting Works. This building was torn down in 1890 and for a number of years the lot remained vacant. In 1906 it was purchased by an east- ern syndicate who in that year erected on it the present six- teen-story office and store building which is now known as the "City National Bank Building" and the home of the City Na- tional Bank. On the northwest corner of Sixteenth Street stood for many years the home of A. D. Jones, Omaha's first post- master. In 1884, in grading this street, the house was some forty feet above the street, necessitating three sections of steps to effect an entrance to the house. In 1897 the Schlitz Brew- ing Company purchased the property and erected on it the present four-story brick structure, known as the Schlitz Hotel, the first floor being used mostly by different companies as stores. To the west of this lot, in a two-story frame house, lived E. E. Nash, who before his death was president of the American Smelt- ing and Refining Company. In 1886 he moved the building, and in 1900 erected on the lot the present four-story substantial store building running from 1608 to 1612. On the northeast corner of this block, facing Seventeenth Street, lived Captain Charles B. Ruston, vice president of the Omaha Street Railway Company and of the Omaha Smelting Works. The Rustons moved from there in 1887. The property was purchased by John F. Coad, he in turn selling it to a man named Keeline who, in 1910, erected the present seven-story brick office and store building known as the Keeline Brick. On the southAvest corner of Sixteenth Street for a numT)er of years lived Omaha's first mayor, Jessie Loav. This corner also suffered the effects of grading, and the Lows were in the same plight as A. D. Jones on the other corner, their house 156 OMAHAMEMORIES standing some forty feet above the street, with three sections of stairs winging their way to the house up the steep bank. In ]898 W. R. Bennett & Son purchased the property and built on it the present four-story brick building, moving there from Fif- teenth Street and Capitol Avenue. This proved too large an un- dertaking, and the firm in 1906 sold the store and building to J. E. Baum, who in 1913 sold to the present occupants, Bur- gess-Nash Company. The lot ran the entire length of the block to Seventeenth Street. J). E. Boyd in 1894 purchased the west end and erected the present Boyd Theater. On the southwest corner of Seventeenth Street is located the Y. M. C. A., which covers two city lots. It is a six-story stone building, built in 1906. Tom Murray was the former owner of the lots, which stood twenty-five feet above the street level and were dotted with a number of old, dilapidated frame buildings. Farnam Street. Farnam Street was called after a man named Henry Far- nam, a railroad promoter in the pioneer days of Iowa. It under- went what might be termed more "surgical operations" than any other of Omaha's streets. From its earliest history it was a traveled thoroughfare to the west. In 1880 it had little or no sidewalks. The center of the street was macadamized with gravel, which proved but a temporary makeshift. The balance of the street was one continual mud hole. It must have been the sight of this that caused Saxe, the poet, to write his version of Omaha, when he wrote : "Hast ever been to Omaha, Where rules the dark Missouri down, Where four strong horses scarce can draw An empty wagon through the town?" I do not know when he penned these lines, but I do know they were in no way lacking in truth in 1880. It was the usual thing to see this street torn up and blocked on an average of six or eight times a year for one reason or another. It was first paved with Sioux Falls granite in 1883, after which it was dis- covered that the sewers were inadequate, necessitating new ones ; then came lateral sewers and various connections, followed by larger pipes and sundry other requirements. In 1910 the stone pavement was removed, asphalt taking its place. The grade from Fifteenth to Twentieth Streets was changed on two occasions. At each meeting for that purpose the owners of abutting property almost came to blows. I recall one instance of this in the early part of 1883, when one evening while re- clining against the fence surrounding the old Court House on Sixteenth Street, where now stands the Paxton Block, my atten- OMAHA MEMORIES 157 tion was attracted by a loud noise and angry voices, which I discovered were coming from the old council chamber upstairs in an old frame building, located where now stands the United States National Bank. Prompted by curiosity, I climbed the old rickety stairs which lead me to the scene of strife. There I found engaged, in an all but deadly struggle, Ed. Rosewater and Andrew, his brother, then city engineer ; John I. Redick, W. A. Paxton, A. J. Hanscom, T. W. T. Richards, Dick or John Withnell (I do not recall which), Charles S. Goodrich and Joe Barker. The grade on this street had been established and an effort was being made ^t that meeting to change it, making a deeper cut from Sixteenth to Twentieth Streets. The contem- plated change provided for a six-foot cut, this being advocated by the Rosewaters, Paxton and Redick, and bitterly opposed by the others. Finally a compromise was reached by agreeing upon a three-foot cut. This proved a very fortunate compromise; yet, had the cut as advocated by the Rosewaters and others been carried out, the street would have had a better grade and it would have long since been a better retail street, as evidenced by the wisdom displayed by the Harney Street property holders at that time engaged in a similar struggle. Passing this event I will now endeavor to describe the street as it was in 1880, and as it is this year, 1916. Commencing on Eighth Street, I found at that time on the north side of the street a number of small cottages east of the Union Pacific headquarters, most of which are now used as junk shops. Those, together with the headquarters, covered that side of the block, while on the south side, in the middle of the block, was, in later years, a livery stable. Adjoining it was a frame cottage, the home of Mr. Fox, the contractor. On the southeast corner of Ninth Street was the old Can- field House, run for years by George Canfield who, up to 1881, had been a passenger conductor on the Union Pacific — the house has changed hands frequently since Canfield gave it up. Among others who ran it was G. Fred Elsasser in 1910. The property was owned by S. H. H. Clark. On the northwest corner of Ninth Street was a vacant lot. It is claimed that the Nebraska terri- torial capitol was once located on it. It is now occupied as a part of the M. E. Smith Manufacturing Company. Adjoining this lot to the west stands a one-story brick. This building was at one time the home of the Omaha Bee. In 1882 this company built adjoining it a four-story brick, using the smaller one as the business office. Further west in that block on the north-, east corner stands a large five-story brick, built in 1882, by A. L. Strang. The lower floors dere iised by him as a supply house and the upper ones by the Department of the Platte as their headquarters from 1885-8. It was in later years oecu- 158 OMAHA MEMORIES pied b}^ the Omaha Printing Company. On the southwest cor- ner of Ninth Street once flourished the old Tivoli Garden, which was in its prime from 1881 to 1886. Many were the pleasant evenings spent by me in listening to the music of Mr. Thiel's band and enjoying the cool breezes under the shade of the "Anheuser Busches. " Adjoining this garden was the under- taking shop of C. Riewe, who conducted the second oldest busi- ness of the kind in Omaha in point of years. West of Riewe 's place was the old Doran House, known and remembered by many of Omaha 's prominent men of today, who at one time or another boarded there in their younger days. It was run by a saintly widow lady, named Mrs. Doran, who about 1882 married Pat Carey, one of nature's noblemen. Mrs. Doran, or Mrs. Carey, was the mother of Father Doran, an Omaha boy, now a distin- guished Jesuit priest and head of that order — I believe in Mil- waukee. In 1889 this house was moved to Nineteenth near Har- ney Street, where it is still run as the Doran House. Mrs. Carey died about ten years ago, her husband following about 1911. While I never boarded at that house, yet it was my pleasure to have personally and intimately known both of those persons from 1880 until the time of their death. On the southeast corner of Tenth and this street was lo- cated the Green Tree House, run by Dan Tobin. It was moved in 1887 to Eighteenth and William Streets, where it now stands. On this ground was erected, in 1891, by Allen Bros., the whole- sale grocers, the present six-story fireproof building,. On the northwest corner of Tenth Street is the B. & M. headquarters. Up to 1885 it Avas occupied by MeCord-Brady & Co. as their wholesale grocery house. The building on the northeast corner of the block was built by Max Meyer in 1881, and for a number of years Avas used by him as a jewelry store. It Avas the most prominent corner in Omaha for years. On the southwest cor- ner of Tenth Street is a two-story brick, built in 1886 by A. J. Poppleton. For years it has been occupied by a wholesale liquor house, first by Stubendorf & Nestor, afterwards by Andy Frick, the present occupant. The upstairs part was occupied bv the Y. M. C. A. from 1887 to 1890. On this lot A. J. Poppleton" built his law office in 1858. I have heard him say that it was a one- room sod house constructed by himself. The brick building ad- joining it on the west was built in 1885 by the Krug Brewing Company and has been used as a hotel during all of the time It is known as the "Vienna Hotel." I have been informed by Mr. Krug, Sr., that on that lot he built his first residence in , Omaha and the spot on which most of his children were born. He is yet alive, though long past the three score years and ten. The small buildings, from the last named to the corner of Elev- enth Street, have been occupied by various people and for vari- ous purposes during the past thirty-six years. OMAHAMEMORIES 159 The two-story brick on the northwest corner of Eleventh and Farnara Streets was for years the property of Count Creigh- ton, where, on the second floor, he maintained his office in 1887. In the early '80s the spacious hall was used for dances and large gatherings, and on more than one occasion have I tripped the "light fantastic" at a St. Patrick's Day ball in that old hall. This old building was occupied at one time by F. C. Festner & Son as a printing office. The Eden Muse was located on the first floor during the year 1890, and since then it has been a "general supply house." The adjoining building west, called the "Lytle Block," was built in 1882 by Judge J. W. Lytle, one of Omaha's pioneer lawyers. The upper floors have been used for various purposes since its erection. In 1882 Rathbun & Dailey occupied it for a commercial school. The small brick west of this was built by Ed. Callahan in 1878, and has been used as such since that time. The northeast corner of Twelfth and this street was for thirty years occupied and owned by Dick Wild, who ran what was called the finest saloon in Omaha. He was a great sport, fancy horses and race tracks being his hobby. He died in 1906. A five-story auto supply house was built there in 1910, covering the entire length of the lot. On the southwest corner, facing Eleventh Street, is a five-story brick, used as a hotel and saloon — more for saloon than hotel purposes. It was built in 1897. In 1881 it was occupied by James McVittie, father of Tom Mc- Vittie of Omaha, as a grocery store. It is dignified with the title of "Oxford Hotel." A few doors to the west of this is the large three-story brick, for more than a quarter of a cen- tury the wholesale and retail furniture stores of Dewey &, Stone. West of this stands a small two-story brick store, built about 1878 by John Kennelly, one of Omaha's oldest settlers. On the southeast corner there is a two-story brick which can justly be classed as ah old landmark. A part of this building was a wholesale and retail cigar store. Among the early tenants who so used it for that purpose were Mattes Toft, now deceased ; Teo. Olseu, once city councilman and later city comptroller of Omaha, and later on by Jim McGuckin. The entire store part of this building is now used as a retail clothing house. The second story was for twenty-five years used by Julius Meyer as his living apartments, where he kept the greatest display of Indian curios and costumes in this country. In these rooms, in 1882, the democratic city central committee met as the guests of Mr. Meyer. On the northwest corner of Twelfth Street stood an old frame building, which was torn down in 1882 to make room for the Nebraska National Bank, which was erected there in that year by Henry W. Yates. This is a six-story narrow building and called the "Iron Building." The Nebraska National Bank 160 OMAHAMEMORIES still occupies it. The adjoining building west was for years owned and occupied by N. I. D. Solomon as a store. The bank sought to purchase it from the owner, but the price was un- reasonably high, so they built without it. Nick Yager ran a restaurant in the place for sixteen years, since which time it has been used as a saloon, run by Cackley Bros. West of this was the furniture house of Charles Shiverick. This firm had two very costly fires, one in 1892 and the other in 1893, after which they practically went out of business. On the adjoining lot west was located the Omaha Furniture Company. This was a two-story frame building. When vacant it was used tempo- rarily by the First National Bank while its present place was being constructed in 1887. Ed. Maurer occupied the adjoining lot where stood a two-story frame building. Permanent brick buildings now occupy both of these lots. The small one-story frame adjoining the Merchants National Bank was from 1882 to 1888 occupied by A. Martin as a tailor shop, and is noAv used as a cigar store. The northeast corner of that block, facing Thirteenth street, where the six-story Merchants National Bank now stands, was covered by a one-story frame store building facing Farnam Street, and was from 1881-88 used as a hat store and owned by a retired army officer. Col. Frederick. On the southwest corner of Twelfth stood a real old landmark — the original home of the United States National Bank. It was a two-story white brick, with large basement used for years by a Mr. Gamil as a barber shop. The first floor was occupied by the bank. The familiar iron stairs on the east side over the sidewalk in 1881 led to the Ogallala Land and Cattle Company's office. This building was torn down in 1886 and the present six-story stone was erected in its place. The greater part of the upstairs has for a long time been used by the Northwestern Railroad as its headquarters. The bank vacated the place in 1907, when it con- solidated with other banks and moved to its present headquarters on Sixteenth Street. On the west of the bank, at No. 1211, Henry Hardy ran a 99c store from 1881-7, since which time it has been occupied by the Omaha Furniture and Carpet Com- pany. The adjoining building was from 1886 to 1905 occupied by Hill & Young as a furniture store. The next place Avest, and adjoining the First National Bank, Avas for years used as a hardware store, owned by a Mr. Sn,yder. The southeast corner of Thirteenth and Farnam was in 1880 covered by a two-story frame building used by the First National Bank for the same purpose that it now is. In the rear of this at that date J. E. Boyd, pork packer, had his office. The building was razed in 1887 and the present one erected. On the northeast corner of Thirteenth and this street stands a two- story brick, the former home of the Merchants National Bank. OMAHAMEMORIES 161 It is an old landmark and was built in the early days of Omaha. Of late years it has been occupied by a drug company. Prior to that it was the Union Pacific ticket office. The building west of it was used by J. A. Caulfield as a stationery and book store. Adjoining this was in 1880 located the dry goods store of J. H. F. Lehman. It was a one-story frame building. The first white shirt purchased by me in Nebraska was bought there in March, 1880. The building was torn down about 1883 and the present brick was erected on the lot. In 1895 Ed. Maurer pur- chased the property for $12,000, since wdiich time he has con- ducted his present business — that of a saloon and restaurant. This restaurant has for years been known throughout this west- ern country as the most up-to-date one of its kind to be found. The two-story frame building west of this was for twenty-five years used by John Baumer as a jewelry store. He retired from business in 1896. This is the only frame building now standing in any block of this street from Thirteenth to Eighteenth Streets. The adjoining four-story brick, which for the past ten years has been occupied by the Postal Telegraph Company, Avas erected about 1888. Sam Burns' Crockery Store was for many years located at No. 1318. On the northeast corner of that block is *the "Cahn Block," a two-story brick, another of Omaha's old- est landmarks. Since its erection back in the '70s it has been owned by the Calm family and was erected by Aaron Cahn, one of Omaha's oldest clothiers. The stores facing Farnam Street are used, one as a cigar store and the other as a ticket office. Judge A. C. Troup and Ed. Cornish had their law offices upstairs for a long time. In 1882 Rector the furrier occupied the corner store and Phillip Lange the other as a shoe store On the soutlnvest corner of Thirteenth Street was M. Hell- man's three-story brick building which, up to 1888, was the larg- est exclusive clothing store in this city. In 1897 it was converted into a hotel on the European plan, and was called the "Dewey." It was destroyed by fire in February-, 1913, and in 1914 the Omaha Printing Company erected in its place the present five- story brick — one of the largest printing houses in the Avest. Two of the buildings west of this were for years used as drygoods stores, one by Loyal Smith, and the other by S. P. IMorse & Co. Smith was a sensational bargain-giver and at times would give free excursions to Omaha from a radius of 100 miles around, when carpets Avould be laid on the sidewalks almost the entire length of the block. One pleasant Saturday night in the spring of 1886 he locked the store doors and decamped for Canada, leaving behind him debts aggregating $100,000. In the summer of 1887 Morse disposed of his store and business. West of these buildings in 1880, Ish & McMahon ran a drug store, this being the closest the block ever came to harboring a saloon until 1889, when Dorst established a wholesale liquor house at No. 1313 in 162 O M A H A M E M O R I E S that block. On the southeast corner of that block stood one of Omaha's oldest hardware and stove stores, and one of the most extensive in the entire west. It was a three-story building occu- pying a full city lot and \vas owned and run by Milton Rogers & Son. This ground and building was sold by the Rogers estate in 1910 to the Woodmen of the World, who erected on the lot its present sixteen-story building, it being the headquarters of the order as well as an office building and stores. On the northwest corner of Fourteenth and Farnam in 1880 there was a two-story frame store and office building, one of the stores being used by A. D. Morse Shoe Compam'. His signs read : "A boy can buy as cheap as a man at A. D. Morse's,'' this being about all the advertising he did, that being sufficient, as it made him famous. The present two-story brick on that lot was erected about 1883 and for years a part of the second floor was used as a hall, known as "St. George's Hall.'' For years John L. "Webster had his office there, as did Boggs & Hill. The Norris ticket office and cigar store and J. B. Williams, the tailor, at one time occupied two of its stores, the latter being the oldest tenant in point of duration in the building. West of this at No. 1412 is the World-Herald office, located there in 1887. Prior to that there was a one-story brick there, used as a saloon and run by Ed. Wittig. Adjoining this to the west has for years been the saloon and billiard hall of Lentz & AVilliams ; it is a two-story brick — this being part of the ground upon which in 1885 was erected a one-story narrow brick building where, in January of that j-ear David Miller, ex-sherift' of Douglas County, started a saloon which for years was known as a political head- quarters and called the "Drum," but it proved an expensive ven- ture to Miller. Adjoining this on the northeast corner was Boyd's Opera House, erected in 1882. It was completeh' destroyed by fire in October, 1893. In 1896 the Nebraska Clothing Company purchased the ground and erected its present five-story clothing house. In 1880 an old livery stable, owned by Wilber & Co., occupied this lot. On the southwest corner of Fourteenth Street is located the Paxton Hotel. When it Avas built, in 1882, it was considered the finest hotel in the city if not in the entire west. It was a vacant lot in 1880, and prior to the fire of 1878, the Grand Central Hotel stood there. The Ketchum brothers built the present hotel, which they have managed since its erection. The building west of it was the place from which the old ^Morning Herald was issued. At No. 1415, C. S. Goodrich ran a store in 1885. At No. 1417 was, in 1880, located the first undertaking establishment in the city, and was owned and run by John G. Jacobs, and after his death by Drexel & Maul. At No. 1419 is the Drexel Shoe Company. In 1883 Henry Dohl occupied it for a like purpose. On the southeast corner of that block and Fifteenth Street is OMAHAMEMORIES 163 located the Ware Block, erected in 1882 by W. A. Paxton. It is a six-story brick used for stores and offices. For a number of years it was used by Kelle.y, Steiger & Co. as a drygoods store. It was named in honor of the wife of the owner, AV. A. Paxton. On the northwest corner, on Fifteenth Street, wafS located the old Union Block, also called the Wabash Corner because the ticket office of that road was located there from 1880-90 — Frank E. Moores being the agent. For years it was the spot where political medicine was mixed. I recall one instance in 1890 when there were gathered in a group James E. Boyd, W. J. Bryan, Charles II. Brown, C. V. Gallagher, J. Sterling Mor- ton and myself. At this writing this building is being razed to make way for the eight-story building of the Omaha World- Herald, this lot having been purchased by the company in 1914, The five-story brick west of this was built in 1882 by Peter Goos, and was used by him as a hotel, then called the "Goos Hotel." In 1885 it was sold to W. A. Paxton who in 1895 sold it to Lou Hill. Since 1885 it has been known as the "Merchants Hotel." The lots west of that are the ones on which the Paxton Block is located, that building extending to the northeast corner of Six- teenth Street. In 1880 and up to 1883 the Douglas County Coui^t House stood on that corner, when it was sold to Paxton for a certain sum, and part in exchange for other lots where now stands the new Court House. The Paxton Block was erected in 1888. In 1895 it was sold to the present owners, the Boston Ground Eent Company. On the southwest corner of Fifteenth Street is located the Barker Block. This ground has been owned by the Barker estate, to my personal knowledge, since 1880. In that year and up to 1886 there stood on that lot a two-story frame building, used for stores and offices. In 1886 a new building was started, but before its completion it was destroyed by fire. The present six-story brick was constructed immediately' afterward, the main fioor of which is occupied as a banlc. The adjoining two-story brick was built in 1882 hy 0. F. Davis and for years was used by the Davis Keal Estate Company. The brick adjoining this was built in 1884 by George W. Ames & Son, after whom Ames Avenue was called, and was used as their real estate office up to 1893. Adjoin- ing this to the west is the old Redick Building which, from 1884-90, was used as an office building. It is but a four-story brick. In 1910 there was added to this as an annex a six-story fireproof building. Though but thirty feet in width, this, in addition to the old building, makes a first-class hotel, which for years has been called the "Henshaw," run by T. J. O'Brien. A two-story brick twenty feet in width adjoins this and is owned by the Redick estate. On the southwest corner of that block, on Sixteenth Street, in 1880, stood the handsome residence of Charles S. Goodrich, 164 OMAHAMEMORIES In 1884 the property was purchased from him by John A. Mc- Shane for $40,000, and the residence was torn down and re- placed by a number of one-story brick buildings. In 1887 Zach- ariah Thompson bought the property from ^IcShane for some- thijig like $60,000, at least he so informed me. Mr. Thompson had his real estate office in the corner store until 1888, when it was rented to Mr. Schroeder for a drug store, which he occu- pied until 1894, when it was rented for a like purpose by the Myers-Dillon Drug Company, who occupied it until August of this year, when the property was leased from the Thompson heirs for a period of ninety-nine years by the Rose Realty Com- pany, which is erecting on the entire lot a substantial six-story office and store building. I recall an incident that took place in 1882, which was in connection with this lot. When the change of grade of this street was being agitated there was a big pond on the street just east of Sixteenth, and Mr. Goodrich, who was something of a wag, dressed a dummy in a rubber suit and hat, placed a rod and line in his hand, with a sign reading, "Fishing good, but pond dangerous — no bottom." On the northAvest corner of Sixteenth Street, in 1880, stood a three-story, long frame building known as Redick's Opera House, which from 1882-86 was used as our city hall, police sta- tion and police court. In 1889 the old place was torn down and the lot sub-divided, and in 1894 S. P. ]\Iorse erected a five-story drygoods house on the north end. In 1895 the Commercial Na- tional Bank erected a three-story store and bank building on the corner. In 1906 this bank was merged with the United States National which, in 1915, razed the old building and erected in its stead the present five-story stone, with additional ground to the west. On the northeast corner of this block stood the resi- dence of Joseph ^Millard who, in 1887, sold the property to the New York Life Insurance Company. It, in 1888, erected the ten-story building that is now on the lot. It was the first build- ing of that magnitude erected west of Chicago. Mr. White, who was murdered by Thaw in New York some years ago, drew the plans of the building. This property-, in 1912, was purchased by the Omaha National Bank, to which it moved that year, leaving ]\Ir. Joseph Millard, its president, in his declining years to do business upon the same lot upon which he lived while raising his family, from the earl}' '60s to 1887. On the southwest corner of Sixteenth Street in 1881 stood a fire engine house, the lot being owned by the city of Omaha, which in 1884 sold it to the Omaha Board of Trade for $12,000— I was present at the time the deed was signed and delivered hy Acting Mayor Murphy to ^Ir. Ames, a member of the Board. This was in the mayor's office about 5 o'clock p. m. of the day on Avhicli it was signed. In 1885 the Board of Trade erected on the lot a six-story brick, part of which was for offices, the main floor OMAHAMEMORIES 165 being used as a grain exchange. The city council occupied part of the second tloor from 1888 to 1891, It was also the home of the Commercial CUub for years. The building was destroyed by fire on February 16, 1915, and the property sold to the First National Bank, which intends erecting on the lot an eighteen- story fireproof bank, office and store building, which is to be finished by 1917. The one-story stores west of this were erected in 1888. This property has changed hands a number of times since the buildings were erected, all of Avhich now belong to W. Farnam Smith. They are an eyesore and should be replaced by more substantial ones on property as valuable as this. The old Patterson Block on the southeast corner of Seventeenth Street, a three-story brick, is another eyesore which I am informed by the recent owner, ]Mr. George A. Joselyn, is soon to be replaced by a substantial store and office building. On the southwest corner of Seventeenth Street stands the Douglas County Court House, a magnificent five-story stone build- ing, which occupies one-half block in Avidth and one block in length on the Harney Street side, leaving the north side for future extensions and maintaining a beautiful laM^n. It Avas erected in 1912, taking the place of the old, unsightly, inconven- ient old Court House built in 1885. On the northwest corner of Seventeenth Street is the Omaha Bee building, in which I have had my offices for the past three years and where I have written all of these Recollections. This seven-story building was erected in 1887 by the Bee Building Compan}', through the efforts of the late lamented Edward Rose- water, founder and editor of the Omaha Bee, who did more than any other dozen men to build up not only Omaha, but this entire western country. For years he lived on this lot in a small white cottage. When the street was graded in 1888 the house stood about thirty feet higher than the present curb line. The Omaha Morning and Evening Bee are issued from this building, the plant being in the basement. West of it, on the northeast corner, is the City Hall, a six-story stone building, erected in 1890 during the administration of Mayor Cushing at a cost of $250,000, a monument to the memory of that administration. Its original foundation, which cost $4,000, was laid by Brennan & Whelan. On my entrance into the city council in 1890, I caused an inves- tigation to be made as to the durability and strength of this work, and a committee consisting of Dan Wheeler, W. G. Shriver and myself was appointed and reported its defects and recom- mended it being torn down. Our report was accepted and the present foundation was put in its place. The building, while in good condition, is sadly in need of up-to-date remodeling. In 1880 W. A. Paxton resided on that lot. On the northwest corner noAV stands the Deverage Block, a two-story brick used for stores and a rooming house. In 1880 166 OMAHAMEMORIES T. W. T. Richards, an attorney and owner of the Omaha Foun- dry and ^Machine Shop — now the Paxton & Vierling Iron Works — lived there. He was one of the sufferers from the grading of this street, he being left some thirty feet on a high embankment. On the southwest corner of Seventeenth Street lived for years Omaha's first police judge. Judge Porter. His son-in-law, Ed. Haney, owned and occupied the house from 1881 to 1906. Avhen it was sold to F. D. Wead, who erected on it the present three- story brick for store and office purposes. It is known as the AVead building. Douglas Street. Douglas Street was named after the Little Giant of Illinois — Stephen A. Douglas — who at one time was the idol of the demo- cratic part,y, second only to Andrew Jackson. In 1880 there were but few substantial business blocks on this street, aside from what was then called the Caldwell Block, On the south side of that street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, there were a few brick structures. That block alone possessed the only evidence of business on the street. The Paddock Block, on the southwest corner of Eleventh Street, and the Glj^nn Block, on the northwest corner, were the first evidences of permanent buildings on the street. They were erected about 1883. The Mil- lard Hotel, on the northeast corner of Thirteenth Street, was built about the same year. The Metropolitan Hotel, on the north- east corner of Twelfth Street, is an old landmark that runs back to Omaha's early days. It was a popular resort in the early '80s, but has of late years been used mostly as a cheap lodging house. Where the ]\lillard Hotel now stands the Vicher Block stood. That was a two-story frame building used for stores and offices. Gladstone Bros, occupied one of the stores and carried on an extensive grocery business. On the southwest corner of Four- teenth there was a two-story brick, the store part of which was used by Wm. Flemming as a grocery store, he retiring from busi- ness in 1895, since which time a new three-story brick has taken its place. At No. 1407 for years Little & AVilliams ran a grocery store. At No. 1409, in 1888, Charles Higgins opened a saloon and res- taurant, this venture lasting but a short time, as he went broke. Numerous other parties thereafter engaged in various lines of bus- iness in that building, but for one reason or another they were but short lived. In 1898 the present occupants rented the building for a saloon, which is known as the "Budweiser" and owned by Wm. Nestlehouse, but the name should be the "Palace," as it is the political home of the Political King of Douglas County, the man who holds the destiny of both the democratic and repub- lican parties in the hollow of his hand. OMAHAMEMORIES 167 On the southeast corner of Fifteenth Street stands the Kar- bach Block, erected by Charles Karbach in 1887, It is an office and store building of six stories. This corner was, from 1888 to 1898, occupied by C. S. Raymond, the jeweler, from which time the Ryan Jewelry Company has rented it. The German Savings Bank occupied another of its stores from 1890-96, when it went into the hands of a receiver. From 1880-85 on this corner was located a two-story frame store and office building known as the "Bushman Block." Wm. Bushman during that time ran a drygoods store in the corner room. Many of Omaha's pioneer lawyers had their offices in that building, amoiig them being N. J. Burnham, Albert Swartzlander, Judge A. N. Furgeson and Sam Ballet, all of whom have passed beyond the great divide. On the northwest corner of Thirteenth Street in 1880 was the old Republican building, a two-story brick. The Omaha Re- publican, a morning paper, was issued from there. The building was torn doAvn in 1884, when the company moved to its new place on the southwest corner of Tenth and this street. On this lot, in 1885, was erected a three-story building, since which time the entire block has been built solidly with substantial busi- ness houses. At No. 1402 is located the old Fuller Block, which from 1883 to 1906 was occupied b}^ J. A. Fuller as a drug store. During the past eight years it has been used for a saloon — run by Jabez Cross. At No. 1404 is located one of the first picture shows in Omaha. At No. 1408 was the Duke Hardware store. It went out of business in 1888, having sold to C. 0. Lobeck, our present congressman. At No. 1410, T. J. Beard & Brother have had their paper and paint store since 1885, prior to which time it was occupied b}^ Welte & McDonald as a ready-made ladies' garment store. At No. 1412 is a saloon, which was opened up in 1886 by Fole.y & Dorst, but since 1889 it has been run by Tom Foley. The Continental Block, on the northeast corner, was erected in 1888. Prior to that there were a number of one-story frame buildings running as far east as No. 1412, one being occupied by a restaurant and another by Bunce, the hatter, and the corner by Owen McCaffrey as a saloon. On the northwest corner of Fifteenth Street is the old Creigli- ton Block, erected in the early '70s. For fifteen years the corner store was occupied and run by Norman A. Kuhn as a drug store, he retiring from the business in 1896. It was there that both Sherman and McConnell, Omaha's leading druggists, learned the business. There were a number of small frame buildings between that and the corner west. Most of them were torn down in 1912 to make room for the Empress Theater, an expensive build- ing built that year hy J. L. Brandeis Co. of Omaha. The building on the northeast corner of Sixteenth Street was built in 1885 hv William Bushman for a store and office 168 OMAHAMEMORIES building, the store being used by him for a dry goods store. The building is on leased ground, Bushman's lease having expired some years ago. In 1914 the ground and building was leased by Ex-Congressman J. L. Kennedy for a term of ninety-nine years. The Browning-King building, on the southwest corner of Fifteenth Street, has been used by the company as a clothing store since 1886. From 1879 to 1886 it was the drygoods store of Cruickshank & Falconer. The property is owned by the heirs of the late Lew Hill. The building west of this, No. 15,07, has been owned by Thomas Kilpatrick & Co. since 1890, at which time they started the present mammoth retail dry goods house. The two-story brick store at No. 1519 was built by A. j\Iartin, the tailor, in 1886. The lot was purchased by him in'^1882 for $12,000 ; I was present at the time and witnessed the payment of the option money. This proved to be one of the best investments in real estate of those early days. On the southeast corner of Sixteenth Street is the Brown Block, a five-story, narrow office building, Avith a one-store space. J. J. Brown built this structure in 1886. It was the first home of the City National Bank when organized in 1906. On the northwest corner of Sixteenth Street is the gentle- men's clothing department of the Brandeis Stores, which Avas built and occupied by that company in 1892. In February, 1894, the building was totall}^ destroyed by fire, and that year it was rebuilt and occupied by the same firm. The six-story brick next to it, on the west, is owned and used by Ilayden Bros, as the piano department of their store. It was built in 1906. On this ground for more than thirty' years stood the German Catholic Church and Parochial School. They in 1902 sold the property to the present owners, erecting a church the same year at Nine- teenth and Dodge Streets. On the northeast corner of Seventeenth Street is a three- story brick, formerly called the "Patterson Block." For years the second lioor was used as a dance hall and lodge rooms. The Central Labor TTnion at one time occupied rooms there. In ]March, 1899, the building was partly destroj^ed b}' fire, but was soon repaired, since which time it has been occupied as a grocery store by Courtney & Co. On the southwest corner of Sixteenth Street is a seven-story brick, extending the entire length of the block west, covering the entire half of a city block, including the old Karbach residence. It is owned and occupied by the J. L. Brandeis Company, the four upper floors being fitted for offices. This building was erected in 1906. In 1882, on a part of this property facing Six- teenth Street, was a frame fashionable boarding house, which was moved in 1896 to make room for the elegant headquarters erected by the Y. M. C. A., which in turn gave way for the present structure. OMAHAMEMORIES 169 Before going west of Seventeenth Street it might be of in- terest to learn how and when this street, from Seventeenth to Twentieth, secured its present grade and the difficulties incident to it, which occurred in this way : In 1890, when I entered the city council, that part of the street was in such a wretched con- dition that it would have been difficult for a jack rabbit to climb the hill. It was not graded because of a failure on the part of the property holders to agree to a change from the original estab- lished grade, which if permitted to stand, would prevent it from becoming a business street. One of the first ordinances intro- duced by me in the council was one providing for a change of grade on that street. It contemplated a radical cut, more so than I expected to be able to secure, my purpose being a com- promise grade. Pending the hearing on the ordinance I was met on Fifteenth and Farnam Streets by A, J. Ilanscom, who then resided on Nineteenth and this street. He engaged in a tirade of abuse of me, shaking his famous walking cane in my face and creating a regular scene, claiming that my purpose was to ruin his property. My only reply was that if he and a few other of Omaha's barnacles and mossbacks were carted out to Prospect Ilill cemetery, Omaha would soon be a progressive city. Finally, through the efforts of Dr. Geo. Tilden and Ed. Rosewater — both living on that street — I secured a compromise grade, the one the street now has, the street being graded in 1891, after which expensive business blocks took the place of both the large and small frame buildings that were located on the lots. These changes may be evidenced by the remarkable improve- ments that have since taken place, as, where formerly stood the residences of Henry Punal and Ed. Rosewater on the south side between Seventeenth and Eighteenth Streets, there is now the Brandeis Theater, a six-story office and theater building, extend- ing almost the entire length of the block. Added to this on the west end, formerly the Saunders lot, is the six-story Saunders & Kennedy block, used for offices and stores. While on the north side between the same streets, the entire block is built up solidly with creditable business buildings. On the northwest corner of Seventeenth Street, where, for years, lived Dr. Grossman in a two-story frame house, is now a five-story brick office and store building called the "Baird Block." The lots west of that are covered by brick stores. On the northeast corner is the Strand Theater. On the northwest corner of Eighteenth Street is erected the Fontenelle Hotel, an eight-story brick and stone building, em- bracing the entire half of the block. It was erected in 1914 and opened to the public in February, 1915. It is one of the finest of its kind in the entire west, and was built at a cost of $1,000,000. It was built by the Douglas Hotel Company, composed exclusively of Omaha capitalists, and is a thing of beautj^ and a joy forever. 170 OMAHAMEMORIES On the southwest corner of Eighteenth Street the Nebraska Telephone Company immediatel.y after the grading of the street in 1891, erected its city and state headquarters, being a three- story building, and from time to time have been added other improvements, -which at this Avriting gives the company a front- age extending the entire block to Niineteenth Street, all of which is solidly built up with brick buildings owned and used by the company; on those lots formerly stood the old A. J. Hanscom and N. B. Falconer homes. The Omaha Club and the Masonic Temple are on Twentieth and this street. Dodge Street. Dodge Street was called after Grenville il. Dodge of Council Bluffs, Iowa, a man with a remarkable history both in military and civil life. lie was a noted civil engineer and figiired in the early construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. At this writ- ing he is in poor health at his old home in Council Bluffs and is in his eighty-second year. Dodge Street never built up very rapidly, it having shown little evidence of progress since 1880. ]\Iany of the old frame residences of that time have been converted into stores run on a small scale. The old landmarks on the corner of Eleventh Street are still standing. The one on the northeast corner, for- merly the Elkhorn Vallej" House, owned and run by John Witrich in the early '80s, is now used as a cheap lodging house. The old Third Ward school house on the southeast corner has been used as the police headquarters, police court and city jail since 1898. In 1914 a fire engine house was located on the northwest corner of Twelfth Street. A number of one-story brick stores were, in 1912, erected on the northeast corner of Fourteenth Street, on the ground where for years stood the Ilagedorn resi- dence. On the southeast corner stand a few one-story brick buildings erected by A. B. Iluberman in 1882. The Odd Fellows' Ilall at Nos. 1402-4-6 yet remains, it being the only old landmark left on the north side of that street to Fifteenth Street, the Union Pacific having bought all the ground from the Odd Fellows' Hall to Fifteenth Street, on which it erected, in 1910, its present sixteen-story headquarters building. On the southwest corner of Fourteenth Street still stands an old landmark, a three-storj^ brick. For years the third floor was used as a lodge and dance hall, known as Kuenne's Hall, and who of the many fathers and mothers in Omaha and other climes that have not danced in that old hall "I I know I have, for it was at a dance held there in 1881 that I met my wife for the first time. The other buildings to the west of this are ones that have been there since Heck was a pup — the old A. J. Simpson carriage OMAHA MEMORIES 171 shop, dating back to 1865, and the Frenzer Block, on the south- east corner of Fifteenth Street, since 1881. On the northwest corner of Fifteenth Street stands the Mc- Cague Block, erected by the McCague Brothers in 1886, from which time until 1892 it was used in part by the McCague Bank. When the bank failed in 1892 it was taken over by an eastern syndicate and in 1912 was purchased by the Omaha Building and Loan Association, who are the present owners and part occu- pants. From 1879 to 1887 there stood on the ground an old frame building used as a livery stable and run by Jim McShane. The small one-story buildings west of it have been used for years for saloons and restaurants, except the Plunket Block, the upstairs of which is used as a hotel. On the northeast corner of that block and Sixteenth Street is the Neville Hotel, a six- story building erected and used for a hotel and stores. On the southwest corner of Fifteenth Street is the old Post Office building, used since the completion of the new one as the headquarters of the Department of the Missouri. No changes have been made in the rest of the block west of this. The Arlington Block, built in 1884 by John A. Creighton and a few other old-time structures are still there. The Union Block, on the southeast corner of Sixteenth Street, a narrow five-story build- ing, was erected in 1886. It is an office building, except the first floor, which for years was occupied by different loan companies. On the southwest corner is a small two-story brick, sur- rounded by Hayden Bros, mammoth clothing house — it is wholly out of place, and for years the Haydens have sought to buy it, but have been unable to do so. For years it was used by a building and loan company, but since 1899 it has been a drug store run by Sherman & McConnell. The balance of the block west is taken up by Hayden Bros., except the corner on Seventeenth Street, which is owned by Judge Neville, and is vacant. On the northwest corner is the Post Office, a beautiful build- ing, which occupies the entire block. Sixteenth to Seventeenth, Dodge Street to Capitol Avenue. On Seventeenth Street the Dodge Street hill begins or ends, as one would want to term it. There also ends, from a commer- cial standpoint, Dodge Street, and will remain so for future gen- erations unless the Dodge Street hill is cut down. Capitol Avenue. Capitol Avenue has long been a disappointment to the prop- erty owners on that street. In 1880 it was exclusively a resi- dence street, on which lived a very respectable class of people, some of them business men, others employees of the Union Pa- cific shops. Some of those cozy homes have been converted into 172 O M A H A M E M O R I E S stores and others have given place to one-story bricks, peopled by women of disrepute. But few substantial buildings have been erected on the street since 1880, and none worthy of mention until one reaches Fifteenth Street, going west. On the northwest corner of Fourteenth Street, at this writing (1915) stands the Billy Sunday Tabernacle, with Billy in full charge. During his five weeks' stay in Omaha nearly 200,000 people were admitted to this building, man}^ of whom were tem- porarily converted by Billy's persuasive appeals. On the north side of the street, from Fifteenth to No. 1520, the brick buildings located there were built in 1889 by W. R. Bennett, who occupied them until 1900, Avhen he moved to Six- teenth and Harney Streets, the place noAv owned and occupied by Burgess-Nash Company. This corner was the former home of Dr. 0. S. Woods. The south side of the block from Fifteenth to Sixteenth Street has undergone but one change — a laundry has taken the place of Charley Mentor's old livery stable. The Loyal Hotel, a six-story brick, is on the northeast cor- ner of Sixteenth Street and Capitol Avenue. It was erected in 1908. The old Crounse Block, erected in 1883, still occupies the southeast corner. Capitol Avenue is the broadest street in Omaha, and before paved General ]\tanderson likened it to an unpaved prairie. OMAHA MEMORIES 173 CHAPTER XLV. LARGE FIRES IN OMAHA. Fires From 1879 to 1916 (where the losses amounted to $5,000 or over), including the Grand Central Fire of 1878. Allen Bros. Co., June 17, 1899 • $121,000 Avery Building, Tenth and Leavenworth, June 9, 1903 . . 27,000 Allen Bros. Co, November 26, 1903 351,453 Atlas Oil Company, June 24, 1909 17,000 Asbestos Co. and Mid-West Cigar Co., Nov. 10, 1911 11,039 Boyd Packing House, January 18, 1880 127,000 Boyd's Lard Refining department, August 9, 1884 50,000 Barker Block, November 5, 1886 .' . . . 44,000 Boyd Theater, October 2, 1893 Baurberger & Co., May 9, 1892 13,000 Boston Store, February 3, 1894 175,000 Balduff, W. S., eTuly 27, 1907 5,540 Baldrige-Wead Building, June 17, 1912 5,345 Churchill, Parker & Co., October 7, 1889 12,500 Clark Coffee House, December 4, 1894 35,000 Cady Lumber Company, January 16, 1907 5.430 C, St. P., Minn. & Omaha roundhouse, April 14, 1911 28^800 Creighton University, May 8, 1911 32,624 Consolidated Tankline Company, February 5, 1889 12,000 Douglas Printing Company, January 4, 1902 16,000 Doup Manufacturing Company, December 5, 1904 16,000 Dietz Lumber Company, August 10, 1916 130,000 Davis, T. L. (barn), Februarv 28, 1911 8.492 Davis, T. L. (building), July 31, 1911 35,400 Dunning Hardware Compan}^ March 15, 1912 7,356 Exposition Theater, December 4, 1894 125,000 Eden Musee, March 6, 1892 10,000 Fairbanks, ]\Iorse & Co., November 6, 1902 32.000 Festner Printing Company, November 18, 1907. . 38,973 Frederickson (garage), April 2, 1910 17,777 Fairmont Creamery Company, October 30, 1910 105,936 Fitzgerald, F. J., February 4, 1912 6,083 Fanning & JMoise, January 10, 1913 5„093 Grand Central Hotel, September 14, 1878 125,000 Gibson-:\Iiller & Richardson, March 9, 1891 62,000 Goldsmith Furniture Company, November 21, 1892 36.000 Hill & Young, April 13, 1899 17,000 Halden Bros., June 3, 1906 195,500 Haney, J. H., April 55, 1908 •. 9,796 Mrs. II. Hooper, U. S. Natl Bank, 16th and Farnam Streets, April 13, 1912 247.138 174 OMAHAMEMORIES Howell Lumber Yards, April 29, 1891 10,000 Ish & Co., Drugs, November 11, 1881 40,000 Johnson & ^McLain, Planing Mill, February 15, 1907 .... 11.526 Johnson & Bilz, March 31, 1912 5,660 Kingman Implement Company, April 23, 1899 143,000 Karbaeh Block, January 7, 1909 29,503 Larkins, Dry Goods, March 13, 1890 11,000 Logics, A. R., January 3, 1889 33,000 Lininger-Metcalf Company, January 11, 1901 22,000 Mills & McCormack, Julv 26, 1880 20.000 Morse, A. D., February 16, 1884 30.000 Meyer, Max, January 16, 1889 38,000 Morse Shoe Company, October 13, 1894 70,000 Mercer Chemical Company, August 9, 1899 14,000 ^lidland Glass and Paint Company, August 8, 1903 59.130 Mercer Block (11th and Howard), January 28, 1905 447,290 Martin (17th and Webster), June 28, 1907 6,900 Masonic Temple, July 3, 1907 7,800 Moline Plow Company, November 15, 1908 55,764 Manev ]\Iilling Companv, April 3, 1910 75.000 Millard Hotel, January 23, 1911 7,231 Metropolitan Hotel, February 4, 1912 6,083 Missouri River Lumber Company, March 25, 1912 51,000 Mercer Building (11th and Howard), December 27, 1912. 28,366 Metz, Charles and Fred (garage), February 17, 1913 8,029 Mc]\Iahon & Abrams, Januarv 25, 1883 65,000 Nash, Mrs. C. B., January 18^, 1909 16,319 Nye-Schneider, Fowler Company, April 3, 1910 368,000 National Lumber Companv, November 29, 1910 12.200 Nash, Mrs. Ed., March 14, 1912 7^350 Nash, E. W., April 24, 1912 23,570 Nebraska Fuel Company. October 2, 1912 31,194 Oscamp & Haines, September 16, 1889 12,000 Omaha Rubber Company, October 26, 1891 20,000 Omaha Planing Mill Company, November 1, 1890 10,000 Omaha Hardware Company, March 27, 1892 125,000 Orchard, Samuel, December 27, 1892 150,000 Omaha Printing Company, January 5, 1893 41,000 Omaha Tent and Awning Company, March 12, 1900. . . . 37,000 Omaha Creamery Company, December 1, 1901 56,000 Orchard-Wilhelm Companv, June 24, 1909 18,500 Polick, A., May 31, 1889 27,000 Patterson Block, March 21, 1899 8,000 Pavilion, Hanscom Park, February 1, 1893 12.000 Penfold & Co., October 26, 1907 18,931 Paxton Block, February 4, 1908 5,532 Poppleton Estate (-Tenth and Farnam), January 9, 1913. 5,948 Prest-0-Lite Company, January 14, 1913 6,000 Rosenthal Furniture Company," May 16, 1891 28,000 OMAHA MEMORIES 175 Reese Printing Company, August 6, 1897 25,000 Reese Printing Company, September 12, 1898 62,000 Rosenberry Planing IMill, January 17, 1907 7,100 Reese Printing Company, August 24, 1910 6,772 Root Printing Company, November 21, 1911 66,348 Sloan & Johnson, January 1, 1887 30,000 Shiverick Furniture Company, August 21, 1892 32,000 Shiverick Furniture Company, June 3, 1893 Street Car Barn, February 8, 1891 55,000 Swift & Co., Ice House, June 5, 1907 13,650 Schlitz Hotel, June 15, 1907 20,760 Sunderland Bros., ]\Iarch 18, 1909 9,500 Stroud Manufacturing Company, April 5, 1912 51,000 U. P. Store House, November 26, 1902 15,000 Undeland Barber Supply Company, June 8, 1911 23,000 Vogel Realty Company, January 29, 1912 6,525 Willow Springs Distillery, December 7, 1880 40.000 Wakefield Lumber Company, June 25, 1893 55,000 Western Tinware Manufacturing Company, April 6, 1911. 12,298 Dewey Hotel, February 28, 1913 '. 47,000 Atlas Oil Company, April 25, 1913 12,252 National Refining Company, May 12, 1913 27,089 Bell Drag Company, June 1, 1913 10,137 Exel Grant (livery), June 9, 1913 5,850 Tracy Bros., June 15, 1913 6,663 Burgess-Granden Company, August 7, 1913 82,169 Independent Harvester Company, September 27, 1913. . . . 9,906 Prest-0-Lite Compan3% November 6, 1913 5,000 Meyer Brookstein and others, January 6, 1914 14,589 Louis Nash, March 23, 1914 28.961 L. G. Doup, August 27, 1914 24^012 Grossman & Goldstein, October 7, 1914 5,797 Smith Brick Company, November 16, 1914 9,770 Sherman-IMcConnell Drug Company, November 22, 1914. . 23,326 Margolin Bros, (livery), January 11, 1915 6,109 Omaha Board of Trade Company, February 16, 1915 108,399 Omaha Water Company (Walnut Hill), ]\Iarch 15, 1915. . 9,306 Mercer Building, June 15, 1915 11,995 David i\Ielville, July 29, 1915 5,792 In 1880 there were three fire stations and sixteen men (paid). The rest were volunteers. There were three hof^e wagons with four men each and one hook and ladder truck with four men. In 1915 there are 282 men, all paid, including the chief, as- sistant chiefs, master mechanic and secretary- of department. No fatalities from 1880 to 1890, though there were manj^ dis- astrous fires. 176 OMAHAMEMORIES In 1891 Captain M. F. Carter was killed when a fire occurred in the Paxton Hotel, which started in the annex. Captain Carter was killed by falling walls. On June 3, 1893, Captain Chas. D. Cox, hose company No. 7, and Fireman John P. Oury, same company, were killed at the Shiverick fire. October 2, 1893, Fireman Alfred C. Gyreum, hook and lad- der company No. 1, was killed at the Boyd Theater fire, Fif- teenth and Farnam Streets. His body was found in the ruins the next day. On March 24, 1899, in the New Patterson Block, Seventeenth and Douglas Streets, three women met death by jumping from the windows of the third floor to the street. The building was not badly damaged. I recall, as one of the dead, ]\[rs. Jake Shammel. June 18, 1899, at the Allen Bros, fire. Lieutenant Ruane, hook and ladder company No. 3, was killed when 400 pounds of gunpowder exploded. Ten others were frightfully burned, but not fatally. August 10, 1899. four men were electrocuted by having the ladder on one of the trucks come in contact with a live wire in the alley back of the Mercer Chemical building. These men were Otto Gesike, James Adams, Charles Hopper and George Benson. November 26, 1903, four men were killed at the Allen Bros. fire, which occurred early that morning. Death was caused by falling doors. Those who died were Lieutenant Burmeister and Firemen LeRoy Lester, H. C. Goldsborough and William Barrett, all members of engine company No. 2. William Flood was killed bv a horse falling on him Julv 13, 1892. Eli King was killed by falling from a hook and ladder truck going to a fire on December 29, 1894. The chiefs of the fire department from 1880 to 1916 were as follows : John II, Butter, Jack Galligan, Riddle, Charles A. Salter, the present chief. In this connection it might be stated that the Omaha Fire Department is one of the most efficient and up to date of any in the United States. Much of this credit is due to Chief Salter and his able staff of assistants, coupled with a force of well trained and well disciplined, courageous firemen. OMAHA MEMORIES 177 CHAPTER XLVI. POSTMASTERS. Postmasters who have served in Omaha from 1879 to 191 (i: Thomas F. Hall, appointed March 16, 1877. v Charles H. Coutant, appointed July 9, 1883. Constantine V. Gallagher, appointed March 30, 1887. Thaddeus S. Clarkson, appointed October 1, 1890. Euclid Martin, appointed February 12, 1895, Joseph Crow, appointed March 11, 1899. Henry E. Palmer, appointed January 22, 1904. B. F. Thomas, appointed February 16, 1908. John C. Wharton, appointed February 28, 1912. Charles E. Fanning, appointed July 7, 1916, present incum- bent. Assistant postmaster, James I. Woodard, appointed June, 1882, the present incumbent, in continuous service. ATTORNEYS. In 1880, upon my arrival in Omaha, I found the following named practicing attorneys : Geo. W. Doane Chas. A. Baldwin Geo. W. Ambrose N. J. Burnliani J. W. Savage John I. Redick C. S. Chase W. 0. Bartholomew J. I. Gilbert John L. Webster Geo. A. Pritchard Experience Estabrook John M. Thurston E. Wakely Simion Bloom Geo. B. Lake A. N. Furgeson James Neville General Strickland J. M. Woolworth Howard B. Smith T. W. T. Richards Edmond M. Bartlett Gen. John C. Cowin Richard Hall C. F. Manderson Chas. H. Brown Chas. Redick Albert Swartzlander E. F. Smyth W. J. Connell B. E. B. Kennedy J. J. O'Connor Watson B. Smith Gen. Geo. M. O'Brien A. J. Poppleton Henry D. Estabrook Clinton Briggs Of those, the only ones living and engaged in the practice of law today, are Connell, Webster, Cowin, II. B. Smith, Ken- nedy, O'Connor, Neville and Bartlett. Those who came since and have died are : Wm. Claire Andrew Bevins Chas. Ogden Gene Montgomery C. R. Scott M. R. Hopewell Martin Langdon Frank E. Brown Harry E. Burnham Chas. E. Clapp Louis D. Holmes W. C. Ives Herbert Levitt R. B. Montgomery H. E. Palmer W. S. Shoemaker Frank W. Wissels L. W. Launsbury I. R. Andrews J. A. Beck Clinton N. Powell Geo. Jeffries Jos. H. Blair M. S. Bouma Ralph W. Breckenrldge Otis Balue James P. English Jos. Carr C. J. Green John D. Howe Wm. Bowman Thos. F. Lee J. W. I3!ttle 178 OMAHA MEMORIES Chas. E. Morgan W. S. Poppleton D. Van Elton B. F. White J. N. Baldwin Chas. Offutt Wm. Stowe Herbert J. Davis Edw. R. Duffy Geo. Townsend C. F. Breckenridge Wm. D. Beckett John T. Gathers Frank Heller Judge Munger John M. Thurston W. R. Kelley W. A. Messick F. E. Munn W. A. Saunders C. H. Von Mansfeldi Max Kuhn Those now practicing before the Douglas Count}- bar are L. I. Abbott Jas. H. Adams Ray J. Abbott F. A. Agnew F. W. Anheuser Hermann Aye C. J. Baird Wm. Baird E. A. Baird Benj. S. Baker Arthur E. Baldwin John N. Baldwin C. H. Balliett A. K. Barnes P. J. Barrett Chas. Battelle John W. Battin W. L. Baughn Irving F. Baxter M. L. Beckwith J. E. Bednar C. F. Benjamin Freemont Benjamin J. A. Bennewitz Louis Berka Geo. Bertrand A. H. Bigelow T. W. Blackburn E. N. Blazer H. G. Boesche J. J. Boucher H. H. Bowes E. L. Bradley Thos. E. Brady J. J. Breen John P. Breen Mary Brennan Geo. W. Briggs C. W. Britt F. A. Brogan Clinton Brome H. C. Brome Narris Brown E. S. Brumbaugh A. F. Brungardt C. C. Buchanan B. G. Burbank J. O. Burger J. Q. Burgher Donald J. Burke E. R. Burke A. H. Burnett Wm. Burton Harry S. Byrne John H. Caldwell Jos. Carr W. N. Chambers Byron Clark A. S. Churchill Geo. Christofferson W^m. J. Coad H. E. Cochran Raymond T. Coffey E. A. Conway I. E. Congdon Herbert J. Connell W. J. Connell C. F. Connolly Jas. F. Connelly Julius S. Cooley Geo. W. Cooper John W. Cooper W. A. Corson Sam'l 0. Cottner Geo. W. Covell Guy Cox J. C. Cowin Thos. D. Crane Bryce Crawford Frank Crawford L. F. Crofoot Raymond Grossman Jos. Crow M. 0. Cunningham Thos. Curran H. S. Daniel Geo. Day L. B. Day W. A. DeBord W. H. DeFrance C. W. De Lamatre H. C. De Lamatre J. 0. Detweiler C. T. Kickinson J. T. Dillon W. A. Dilworth T. A. Donohue M. L. Donovan Wymer Dressier G. M. Drew F. W. Driscoll C. L. Dundey R. H. Dunham I. J. Dunn J. L. Dysart T. B. Dysart W. D. Eakin Fred Eastman W. D. Easton Willard Eddy Alfred Eggers W. A. Ehlers C. S. Elgutter A. G. Ellick Lee S. Estelle E. T. Farnsworth E. R. Ferguson W. S. Finlayson Harry Fischer Allen G. Fisher D. A. Fitch F. W. Fitch J. M. Fitzgerald H. B. Fleharty W. C. Flor Chas. E. Foster W. A. Foster Jqs. B. Fradenburg W. C. Eraser H. J. Freytag Chas. L. Fritcher W. G. Fuller F. H. Gaines H. H. Genau W. D. Griffin W. M. Ciller Geo. F. Gilmore S. I. Gordon Chas. A. Goss John Graham Jos. P. Gray Julius L. Greer A. W. Gross J. H. Grossman W. F. Gurley L. F. Hale Chas. Haffke L. L. Hall M. A. Hall C. W. Haller J. W. Hamilton H. H. Harper G. F. Harrington OMAHA MEMORIES 179 M. F. Harrington Silas A. Harris Vincent Hascall W. H. Hatteroth F. A. Bebenstreet W. C. Heelan Ames E. Henley R. E. L. Herdman W. H. Herdman C. E. Herring E. C. Hodder E. D. Hogan Yale Holland T. A. Hollister Geo. Holmes P. E. Horan D. Horrigan Richar ' . . ' - ,0^ o &>' .Hq. 0' . i^i^'M^'^ ■•'/ / V " ""-^^^' -A-' ^^/ •'"^^'^"