USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of Omaha from the pioneer days to the present time > Part 18
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basement with the intention of putting in steam presses at the proper time, but this idea was not carried out till some years afterwards, and then by other parties. The fact, however, shows that he comprehended the importance to which the press would soon attain in Nebraska. He disposed of his office in 1859 to the Nebraskian, being com- pelled to abandon journalism on account of poor health. The building erected by Mr. Wyman was for several years occupied by the Herald, and afterwards by the Republican. It was torn down a few years ago by the owner, Mr. George Giacomini, who built on its site a three-story block.
The Omaha Democrat, started in 1858 by Hadley D. Johnson, struggled along for two months and then died.
The first regular daily newspaper in Omaha was the Telegraph, the first number being issued December 5th, 1860. It was a small four-column paper, and was “ pub- lished simultaneously at Omaha and Council Bluffs." H. Z. Curtis was the editor and proprietor, and W. H. Kins- man, associate editor. It was short-lived, not running more than a year.
The first number of the Omaha Republican, a weekly paper, started by Ed. F. Schneider and Harrison J. Brown, was issued on the 5th of May, 1858. It soon passed. into the hands of Gilbert C. Monell, who controlled it until the summer of 1859. Owing to factional fights among the parties interested in the paper, it became almost worthless and without consideration or respect as a republican journal. Finally some republicans, who were independent of both factions, wrote east for some one to take charge of the paper. Thurlow Weed recommended Mr. E. D. Webster, who finally consented to come to Omaha and straighten out affairs. He purchased the paper in August, 1859, and soon made it a political power. Mr. Webster was a vigorus writer, and a shrewd and active politician. He was one of the organizers of the republican party in Nebraska. In the fall of 1861 Mr. Webster sold the Republican to Colonel E. B. Taylor and E. A. McClure, and went to Washington to become the private secretary of Secre- tary Seward. Colonel Taylor, as editor of the Republican, wielded a powerful influence in Nebraska. His ability in that position was acknowledged by everybody. Colonel Webster, who is now a resident of Nebraska, says of him:
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" He inherited my friends and my enemies, and he was one of the ablest editors Nebraska ever had." The Repub- lican was issued by Taylor & McClure as a tri-weekly, the edition being published in the afternoon, and giving the latest telegraphic news. In December, 1862, it was changed to a tri-weekly morning paper, and on January 7, 1864, it was made a daily paper. In February of the same year it was changed to an evening paper. A change of proprietorship occurred in 1865, Taylor & McClure being succeeded by the firm of Heath, Taylor & Co., and the names of E. B. Taylor and John Taffe were withdrawn to give place to H. H. Heath as editor. In February, 1866, Taylor and McClure resumed control of the Republican and E. B. Taylor once more filled the editorial chair. A few months later St. A. D. Balcombe purchased a one-half interest in the concern, and the firm was known as Tay- lor, McClure & Balcombe. Shortly after this Mr. Balcombe became sole owner and editor. With the issue of April 9, 1867, the Republican appeared as a morning paper. The Herald's proprietors having learned of the proposed change in advance, surprised the Republican and the public by converting their paper on the same day from an evening to a morning journal. E. B. Taylor was again called upon to edit the Republican, from May, 1869, to July, 1870. He was succeeded by John H. Teasdale, who at the end of seven months gave place to Waldo M. Potter, former editor of the Saratogian, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Mr. Potter purchased a half interest in the Republican. A con- solidation with the Omaha Tribune-a paper which had been started January 25, 1870, by J. B. Hall and others- was brought about in June, 1871. The consolidated paper was called the Tribune and Republican. Mr. Potter retired and C. B. Thomas, of the Tribune, became editor of the " Mammoth Consolidated," as it was called by its con- temporaries. The name of the Tribune was dropped in January, 1873, and the old name of the Republican was. retained. In July, 1873, Mr. Thomas was succeeded by Hon. John Taffe, who in turn gave place to George W. Frost, Chauncey Wiltse and others as editors. In May, 1875, the Republican passed into the control of Caspar E. Yost, as business manager, and D. C. Brooks as editor,
. and in 1881, Mr. Yost and Fred. Nye became the owners.
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of the paper, having purchased in equal shares the stock of the Tribune printing company, by which the Republican was being published. Mr. Nye thereupon became editor of the Republican. The establishment was moved into its present home. a four-story brick building, at the southwest corner of Tenth and Douglas streets, in 1884. The Republican was sold by Messrs. Yost and Nye, in the fall of 1886, to S. P. Rounds and Cadet Taylor for $105,000. These gentleman reorganized the establishment under the name of the Omaha Republican company, with Mr. Rounds as president, O. H. Rothacker as editor, and Mr. Taylor as treasurer. The paper was given a new dress, and a perfecting press was added to the new equipment. Mr. Rounds, who died in the fall of 1887, was a gentleman who had a national reputation. He was public printer of the United States for four years. He resigned from that office in the fall of 1886, in order to engage in the newspaper business in Omaha. Since his death the paper has had a varying fortune, principally under the management of Mr. Cadet Taylor. On December 15, 1888, Mr. Yost was appointed receiver of the institution, this being done upon the petition of the heaviest stockholders in the hope that he would straighten out the affairs of the paper.
The Omaha Daily Herald was established in 1865 by Dr. George L. Miller and D. W. Carpenter, and met with public favor from the start. In August, 1868, the paper was purchased by Lyman Richardson and John S. Briggs. Dr. Miller, however, remained as editor, and at the end of six months he bought the interest of Mr. Briggs, the firm then becoming Miller & Richardson. The Herald under their administration was regarded as one of the leading demo. cratic papers of the west, while Dr. Miller took rank as one of the prominent democratic editors of the country. His efforts, however, were largely devoted to the building up of this city, and he is entitled to a large share of credit for the wonderful results that have been accomplished. In March, 1887, Miller & Richardson sold the Herald news- paper to a stock company, of which Hon. John A. McShane was the principal stockholder. In the fall of 1887, Mr. McShane parted with the control of the Herald, and it is now conducted by Mr. R. A. Craig, who came here from Chicago.
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No man in Nebraska has a more extended reputation than Dr. George L. Miller, who established the Herald and conducted it so ably for so many years. He was born in Boonville, Oneida county, New York, July 1, 1831. He entered upon the study of medicine at the age of seventeen in Syracuse. After five years of office study he became
DR. GEO. L. MILLER.
a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduating in 1852. Dr. Miller began the prac- tice of his profession in Syracuse. At the end of two years he decided to try his fortune in the new west, and ac- cordingly came to Omaha, arriving here in October, 1854. He immediately resumed the practice of medicine. In those
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pioneer days, however, patients were scarce, and hence he found considerable time to devote to other matters. The year after he located in Omaha he was elected to the territo- rial council, and twice re-elected. During his second term he was president of the council. In 1860 he moved to St. Joseph, and during his short stay in that city he contributed numerous editorial articles to the St. Joseph Gazette. These articles were so highly complimented that Dr. Miller in all probability concluded to adopt journalism as his profession at the first favorable opportunity, but receiving the appoint- ment of army sutler at Fort Kearney, he removed to that point and remained there until 1864. He then returned to Omaha and ran for congress on the democratic ticket, but was defeated. In 1865 Dr. Miller established the Omaha Herald, which under his editorial guidance soon grew to be an influential journal, attracting wide-spread attention. It is as an editor that Dr. Miller is best known. He is a smooth and vigorous writer, and it was with regret that the public received the announcement, March 1, 1887, that he had retired from the editorial chair. Dr. Miller has been the intimate friend of many of the country's most eminent statesmen, among whom were the late Horatio Seymour and Samuel J. Tilden. He was regarded during his editor- ial career, as one of the most prominent and influential democrats in the west, and was frequently called into con- sultation with the national leaders of the party. He was strongly urged by these leaders for a cabinet position under President Cleveland, but outside of the honor of the posi- tion he had no desire for the office. Dr. Miller is now engaged in caring for his private interests in Omaha, and is enjoying the fruits of many years of hard labor.
The name of Lyman Richardson has been prominently associated with Omaha journalism for nearly twenty years, during which he was the partner of Dr. Miller in the Herald, and business manager of the paper. Mr. Richard- son was born in Michigan in 1834. Hon. Origen D. Rich- ardson, his father, emigrated to Omaha in that year, and in January, 1855, he was followed by his family. Lyman Richardson studied law in the office of Judge Lake, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He did not take up the practice of law, however, as it presented no attrac- tion for him. When the civil war broke out, Mr. Richardson
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was among the first to respond to the call for troops from Nebraska. He enlisted in the First Nebraska infantry, and was chosen second lieutenant. He was soon promoted to a captaincy, and served in that capacity until the muster- ing out of his regiment at the close of the war. He then spent two or three years in Little Rock, Arkansas, where
MR. LYMAN RICHARDSON.
he engaged in land speculation. Returning to Omaha in 1868, he became associated with Dr. Miller in the publica- tion of the Herald. He soon demonstrated his business ability, and the success of the Herald under the Miller- Richardson regime, was due as much to Mr. Richardson's excellent business qualifications as it was to Dr. Miller's
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editorial talent. Mr. Richardson is a quiet and rather re- served man, and has never entered the political arena. Since his retirement from the Herald he has devoted him- self to his private business affairs.
The Daily Tribune was, during its brief career, a very lively paper. It was ushered into existence July 20, 1870, by a stock company, of which Joseph B. Hall was presi- dent. C. B. Thomas was the editor. The Tribune was republican in politics, and started as an evening paper, but eventually changed to a morning journal. It was finally consolidated with the Republican June 11, 1871.
The Omaha Bee was established by Mr. E. Rosewater, who has been its editor from the beginning. The first num- ber was issued on Monday, June 19, 1871. It was a small single sheet of five columns to the page, and at first was distributed gratuitously, the proprietor depending upon ad- vertising patronage for a revenue. Within a few weeks, how- ever, the paper was enlarged, and a subscription price charg- ed. While republican in politics it was fearless and indepen- dent, ever on the side of the people, and the foe of monoply. Its course was in accord with the popular sentiment; and de- spite adverse circumstances and bitter opposition from various powerful sources, the Bee grew and prospered. From time to time it was enlarged and otherwise mate- rially improved to meet the demands of the public. The Bee has always been regarded as one of the most en- terprising and independent papers in the west. On January 1, 1875, the Bee issued an illustrated supplement and business review of Omaha, the first effort of the kind which had ever been attempted. It proved a splen- did advertisement of the city and its resources. For sev- eral years annual illustrated reviews were published, attracting a great deal of attention throughout the country. The publication of a morning edition was another stroke of enterprise which added to the reputation of the Bee.
In February, 1878, the Bee publishing company was organized, by Mr. Rosewater. The authorized capital was $100,000, but the actual stock represented in the establishment was $40,000. By this arrangement the Bee, which had had many a hard struggle for existence, was placed on a solid financial basis. Mr. Rosewater is the virtual owner of the Bee, he holding about 90 per cent. of
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the stock. The Bee is equipped with two perfecting presses, costing together about $35,000. Each press is capable of turning out 15,000 eight-page papers per hour. The paper is printed from stereotype plates. Two editions a day are . printed-a morning and an evening edition. On August 1st, 1886, a Sunday edition, containing many attractive
HON. E. ROSEWATER.
special features, was started. It has proved a great suc- cess in every respect. The daily has a circulation of nearly 20,000, while the weekly Bee's circulation is about 40,000 copies. Mr. Rosewater is recognized as a very clear and concise writer, and his editorials, especially those of a political character, are noted for their vigor and earnest-
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THE BEE BUILDING.
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ness. He has earned the reputation of being one of the most indomitable, persevering, energetic and enterprising newspaper men in the country. Mr. Rosewater has had rather an eventful career. He was born in Bohemia in 1841. At the age of thirteen he emigrated to the United States with his parents who located at Cleveland, Ohio, After a brief term at a commercial college he entered the telegraphic service. When the civil war broke out Mr. Rosewater was in the south. He returned to the north as soon as possible, and enlisted in the United States telegraph corps in 1862, accompanying General Fremont through his West Virginia campaign. At a later date he was attached to General Pope's staff, and accompanied that commander during the campaign against Richmond, remaining with him until after the second battle of Bull Run. Subsequently he was stationed in the war department office at Washing- ton in the military telegraph service, where he remained until the summer of 1863, when he came to Omaha, which at that time was the terminus of the Pacific telegraph. For seven years Mr. Rosewater was the manager of the Western Union, Atlantic & Pacific and Great Western lines at Omaha, and during the same period he was the associated press agent and telegraphic correspondent for several of the leading eastern dailies. In the fall of 1870 he was elected to the legislature, in which body he made an excel- lent record and wielded a powerful influence. Since that time Mr. Rosewater has taken a very prominent part in politics. Through the Bee, and in every other possible way, he has fought monopoly in every quarter with such an honesty and vigor that he has made his paper eagerly sought for by the toiling masses of the people. Mr. Rosewater is one of the most public-spirited citizens in Omaha. He has always advocated extensive public improvements, and has assisted every worthy enterprise for the public good. The magnificent Bee building, on upper Farnam street, is a substantial evidence of his enterprise. It is 132 feet square, seven stories high, is built of granite, brick, and iron, and is absolutely fire-proof. This structure is one of the most solid as well as one of the handsomest buildings in the country. As a newspaper building it stands without a superior. Its cost was nearly $500,000.
The Daily World was established in the summer of
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1885 by a stock company, Mr. G. M. Hitchcock. the editor of the paper, being the principal stockholder. No expense has been spared to bring the World to a high standard of journalism. It is a bright, spicy afternoon paper, is backed by ample capital, and has become a permanent institution. It is printed from stereotype plates on a perfect- ing press. The World makes a specialty of presenting the news in a condensed form. It possesses several attractive fea- tures, and the management is ever on the lookout for something fresh, novel and interesting. The World is in- dependent in politics and is steadily growing in popular favor.
The Daily Inter-state Democrat is a newsy afternoon paper, published by a stock company, in which W. R. Vaughan is the leading spirit. It was started in the fall of 1888.
The Daily Dispatch is a penny paper, the publication of which was begun in the fall of 1888 by Mr. J. C. Wilcox. It makes a specialty of condensing the news in attractive style.
The daily papers of Omaha are certainly very creditable and enterprising journals, and would do credit to a city of 300,000 people. The staffs number from ten to fifteen men each, and everything is conducted in accordance with metropolitan methods. The great advance made by the Omaha dailies during the last four years has brought to this city a large number of very bright and competent journalists.
In addition to the English dailies there is a German daily-The Tribune-edited by Frederick Schnacke. There are also several weeklies in various languages, among them the Westliche Courier, a German paper; the Pokrok Zapadu, in Bohemian, edited by John Rosicky; the Dannebrog, Den Danske Pioneer-both Danish; Tribune and Post, both Swedish; Railway News; the Watchman; and the Excelsior. The Watchman, now in its nineteenth year, is owned and edited by John T. Bell. The Excelsior is principally devoted to society news, is a well-established paper, and is conducted by Clement Chase, the associate editor being Edgar C. Snyder. There are also a number of monthly publications in Omaha.
The Western Newspaper Union, an old-established
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house, under the management of George A. Joslyn, fur- mishes "patent insides" to over 300 country papers. The American Press association has a branch office in Omaha, Mr. M. G Perkins being the resident manager. This estab- lishment supplies a large number of country papers with stereotype plates.
There have been quite a number of papers started in Omaha, which after a brief existence were interred in the journalistic graveyard. The Nebraska Daily Statesman, which made its advent on July 17, 1864, died in three days. The Daily Evening Times, an independent sheet, was started in 1868 by P. F. Sullivan, William E. Cook, John Howard and Charles Collins. They soon tired of the en- terprise, and the material was thereupon moved to Sioux City. The Daily Dispatch, established in 1873, by J. C. Wilcox, lived about three months. The Daily Union was the outgrowth of a printers' strike in 1874. It was consigned to an early grave in the fall of the same year The Evening News, under the editorship of Fred Nye, lived from May 29, 1878, to June 20, 1880. The Evening Telegram, under the management of S. F. Donnelly and H. S. Smith, was pub- lished from May, 1880, to January, 1882. The Daily Dispatch, which was started by Sweesy & Livesy, in 1884, did not survive more than a year.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE TELEGRAPH.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF EDWARD CREIGHTON, WHO BUILT THE FIRST LINE TO OMAHA, AND ERECTED THE PACIFIC LINE ACROSS THE PLAINS-HIS NUMEROUS TELEGRAPHIC UNDER- TAKINGS AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-HOW HE BECAME A MILLIONAIRE-THE PRESENT IMPORTANCE OF OMAHA AS A TELEGRAPHIC POINT.
The history of the telegraph, in connection with that of Omaha, will prove an interesting chapter, and it cannot be told without relating the history of the late Edward Creigh- ton, who built the first line for Stebbins to Omaha, from Missouri, and soon afterward the Pacific line across the
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plains, thus acquiring a national fame and a princely fortune.
Mr. Creighton was born August 31st, 1820, in Belmont county, Ohio. His youth and young manhood were spent first as a laborer and afterwards as a contractor in building railroad and telegraph lines. He drifted to the southern states, and steadily pursuing this business, he there accumulated some $12,000 or $15,000. In 1856 he came to Omaha and paid a short visit to his brothers, John A. Creighton and Joseph Creighton, and James Creighton, his cousin, who were residing in this city at that time.
In the fall of 1856 Edward Creighton was married in Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Mary Lucretia Wareham, and in 1857 he removed to Omaha, which became his permanent home. He engaged in the lumber business for a short time, obtaining his stock from Pittsburg by steamboat. During the year 1858 and a portion of 1859, he was in Arkansas building a telegraph line from Jefferson, Mis- souri, to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, for Stebbins, the telegraph contractor, who had certain territory in which to construct lines. After finishing this work, Mr. Creighton returned to Omaha, and in 1860 built the Missouri & Western line for Stebbins from St. Louis to Omaha, the first one to reach this city. This line was completed October 5, 1860, and on the evening of that day two or three unimportant messages were transmitted between Brownville and Omaha, and on the following day connections were made with all eastern telegraphic points. The second line to reach Omaha was the Illinois & Mississippi Valley, which was finished in 1861.
Mr. Creighton had already conceived the idea, in 1859, of building a telegraph line from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. He soon afterwards went to Cleveland, Ohio, and there consulted with Jephtha H. Wade, a rich man and a heavy stock-holder in the Western Union, about the undertaking. Mr. Wade directed him to com- municate with General Carpenter, of California, who was president of the California State Telegraph company, then running a line between San Francisco and Sacramento.
After some considerable delay, however, the Western Union company, through the efforts of Mr. Wade, Hiram Sibley and Ezra Cornell, agreed to furnish Mr. Creighton
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with the means for a preliminary survey of the route between the Missouri river and the Pacific ocean. This was during the winter of 1860-61. A trip across the plains in those days without an escort was a very perilous feat, and one which very few had the courage to perform, as the whole country swarmed with Indians, and settlements were few and far between. But Mr. Creighton, then in the prime of his manhood, did not hesitate to start out on this dangerous trip. He went from Omaha to Salt Lake by stage coach. He remained at Salt Lake some little time making the acquaintance of Brigham Young and getting him interested in the overland telegraph project. He not only succeeded in this, but he made a warm friend of Brigham Young, who ever after continued so.
Wade, in the meantime, had gone to San Francisco by steamer, and sent for Mr. Creighton to come on from Salt Lake to Sacramento to assist him in making arrangements with the California parties. Mr. Creighton pushed on for the Pacific coast, making this preliminary survey on horse- back by way of Virginia City, following the pony express route to Sacramento. It was a fearful ride, and he suffered intensely, his face being severely frost-bitten. This south- erly route was considered more practicable than one farther north, where it was feared the heavy snows would interfere with the telegraph lines.
An agreement was made that Creighton should build a line from Julesburg to Ft. Laramie. thence through the South Pass to Salt Lake, to connect there with a line from the Pacific coast, which was to be put up by the California parties. The Missouri & Western line, the reader is re- minded, had been extended from Omaha to Julesburg.
Mr. Creighton and Mr. Wade came back by steamer, and soon after his return, early in the spring of 1861, Mr. Creighton engaged a very large number of men and teams, and began the work at once. One great stimulus to the rapid completion of the work was the passage of a bill by congress, granting a subsidy of $40,000 per annum for ten years to the Pacific Telegraph company, as the corporation, which had been organized for the undertaking, was called, and in which company the Western Union owned the con- trolling stock.
It was a lively race between Mr. Creighton and Mr.
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Street, who had the superintendence of the construction of the California line, as to who would reach Salt Lake first, and they made a wager that the victorious line should take the earnings of the other until it made the junction. They also made other wagers. Mr. Creighton got there first with his line. He reached Salt Lake on the 17th day of October, 1861, beating the California party just one week, when the lines were connected and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were united by the electric current.
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