USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of Omaha from the pioneer days to the present time > Part 23
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was a member of the legislature during that memorable- session of 1858, the bloodless strifes of which have been ex- aggerated in history and caricatured in pictorials. When the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Paddock, as soon as he could arrange his affairs, offered his services in defense of his country. He entered the volunteer army early in the summer of 1861 as captain of a company in the First Ne- braska volunteers. He was soon afterwards detailed on staff duty, and was appointed to the adjutant-general's corps. He retired from the service with the rank of major in that corps. Major Paddock was elected to the territorial legislature of 1865-66, as a member of the house of repre- sentatives, and in the summer of 1866 he was elected to the house in the first session of the state legislature. He served as member of the city council during the years 1869-70. He was chairman of the finance and fire department commit- tees, and owing to the lack of the purchasing power of city warrants, he originated the plan of a special cash fund, out of which supplies and equipments for the fire department could be purchased. This was the beginning of the splendid fire department which has proved such a great protection to life and property. Major Paddock for a number of years filled a responsible position in the service of the Union Pacific. During the last few years he has been engaged in private business pursuits.
Hon. James M. Woolworth stands at the head of the Nebraska bar, and is acknowledged to be one of the leading lawyers of the country. He was born in 1829, in Onondaga Valley, Onondaga county, New York. Graduat- ing in 1849, with high honors. from Hamilton college, he took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, and for two years he practiced in Syracuse. Having a desire to locate in the west, Mr. Woolworth determined to move to Omaha. He arrived here October 31, 1856, and has ever since made this city his home. He soon took a high place at the bar, which at that time included some very bright, energetic and ambitious young men like himself. When Omaha was incorporated as a city, Mr. Woolworth was elected as the first city attorney. He also served in the territorial legislature. In 1871 he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention. and in 1873 he was the dem- ocratic candidate for chief justice of the supreme court.
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Mr. Woolworth, however, has never been an office-seeker, although called upon time and time again by his party. He has devoted himself wholly to his profession, and as a ·result has earned fame and fortune. He has a very large and lucrative practice, which is confined to only the most important cases. In the educational, religious and business development of Omaha, Mr. Woolworth has always taken
HON. J. M WOOLWORTH.
a very active part. He has for several years been the chancellor of the Episcopal diocese of Nebraska, and for more than twenty years he has been one of its lay dele- gates to the general convention of the church. He is a trustee of Brownell Hall seminary, one of the best schoolsin the west, and he was a member of the first board of regents for the high school in 1867. Mr. Woolworth is largely
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interested in Omaha real estate and business enterprises. He was one of the projectors of the Union stock yards, and one of the original trustees of the South Omaha land syn- dicate, and is the counsel of those corporations. He also is a director of the First National bank. Notwithstanding his multifarious duties, Mr. Woolworth takes time occasion- ally to indulge his taste for literature. He is an extensive reader. and one of the most finished and classical writers in the country.
HON. EZRA MILLARD.
The late Ezra Millard was, during the long period of nearly thirty years, one of Omaha's best and most prominent citizens. He stood high as a banker; in business he was progressive and enterprising, and in all matters pertaining to the welfare of Omaha he was public-spirited and liberal. He was born at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1834. In 1850 he
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located in Iowa, and six years later he came to Omaha. He became a member of the firm of Barrows, Millard & Co. The firm soon was changed to Millard, Caldwell & Co., and he remained with it until he organized the Omaha National bank in 1866. Mr. Millard was president of that bank until 1884, when he withdrew and organized the Commercial National and became its president. His reputation as a safe, careful and experienced financier, together with his personal popularity, at once drew to the bank a large busi- ness. Mr. Millard served as mayor of the city during the years 1870-71. He erected several large and substantial business buildings in Omaha, and was one of the enterpris- ing citizens who started the cable railway, he being at the time of his death treasurer of the company. Mr. Millard died suddenly of heart disease, August 26, 1886, at Saratoga Springs, New York. His death was deeply mourned by the whole community.
In the public affairs of the early days of Omaha William A. Little bore a conspicuous part. He came to this city from Aurora, Illinois, in 1856, and engaged in the practice of the law. His superior legal talents, his common sense his integrity, his attention to business, and his earnest and convincing manner of addressing a jury, soon won for him a place in the front rank of his profession. A prominent member of the Omaha bar pays this tribute to the man :
"He was ever true to his clients and to their legal rights. He was by nature a lawyer. His mind acted rapid- ly and correctly and reached a right and legal conclusion and solution of the proposition submitted almost as soon as stated. Lawyer-like, he never abandoned that which ap- peared to him to be right between the parties front the given state of facts, but fortified this view by an industrious re- search for precedents in well-considered cases. He had an exceeding keen sense of that which was right. Such quali- ties of mind made him a sound and safe adviser and a good lawyer, not in one but in all branches of the law. In pre- paring the facts in the case and in their presentation by argument to the court or jury he had few equals. His argu- ments to court on legal questions were always clear, pointed, logical and brief. Before a jury he was a power ; swaying their minds, not by his eloquence-for in the true sense of the word he was not an orator-but by the common-sense
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practical views he took of business affairs and the manner in which he stated and grouped the facts as they bore upon his view of the case. Yet he was not wanting but was oftentimes effective in the graces of oratory. Seldom did he try a case that he did not entertain and amuse the jury with outbursts of sparkling wit and withering sarcasm. In his association and business relations with his fellow attorneys he was ever courteous and obliging. He never violated his word and opposing counsel were never afraid to let their case rest on an oral agreement made with him inside or outside of the court-room and in the absence of a witness. His word was as good as other men's bonds. His business relations generally were characterized by one word-honest. While pursuing his legal avocation he yet took an active part in public affairs. In 1859, 1860, 1861 and 1864, he was elected, from Douglas county, councilman to serve as a member of the upper branch of the territorial legislature. The number of times he was successively re-elected attest the fidelity with which he discharged the trusts confided to him and the value placed upon his services as a legislator. In truth few have impressed their minds on the laws of the state as he did. He was always watchful, prudent and conservative in the measure he advocated. Old settlers re- member and recall with delight his memorable fight as a legislator against the creation of charters for 'wild cat banks.' In 1865 he was elected from Douglas county as a member of the constitutional convention, called to draft a state constitution. In the month of July this convention met, organized, and adjourned sine die. In 1867 Nebraska became a state. Mr. Little was nominated by the demo- cratic state convention for the responsible position of chief justice of the supreme court. His opponent on the repub. lican ticket was Hon. O. P. Mason, of Nebraska City. The solid and enviable reputation which Mr. Little had estab- lished throughout the state as a lawyer, statesman and as a man of incorruptible integrity, designated him as pre-emi- nently the proper person to fill that important and dignified position. It is sufficient to say that he was the only man on the democratic ticket who was elected. At the time of his election he was in feeble health and never lived to qualify as chief justice and render to the state his valuable services in laying broad, sure and certain the principles of
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law as they are builded in well-adjudicated cases. His health still failing he returned to Aurora, where he died in 1867 deeply lamented by all who ever knew him. Even now he is fondly cherished in memory by many who were his warm friends. A more honest and honorable man never crossed the Missouri river."
Judge Eleazer Wakeley, who first came to Nebraska in 1857, was born in 1822 in Homer, Courtlandt County, New York. In 1836 his family moved to Elyria, Ohio, where, in the High School, and under the instruction of an eminent. scholar, Professor John P. Cowles, he finished his educa- tion. He then read law for three years, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. Mr. Wakeley then removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and practiced law in that and neigh- boring counties for eleven years. During this period he took some part in politics. At twenty-five years of age the democrats elected him to the house of representatives of the territorial legislature. He was twice elected state senator, serving four years in all. During the years Mr. Wakeley was in the legislature he was among the leaders in debate, and did a great deal of hard work as a member of various important committees, including those of judi- ciary and education. Many of his fellow-members were then and afterwards prominent in public life. Among others Justice Cobb, of the supreme court of Nebraska, was in the state senate with him for two years. Mr. Wakeley finally withdrew from politics, to devote himself wholly to his profession. In January, 1857, when thirty-four years old, his early friend, B. B. Chapman, who was then delegate to congress from Nebraska, procured his appoint- ment from President Franklin Pierce, as associate justice of the territorial supreme court of Nebraska. This was done without any suggestion or solicitation from Mr. Wakeley. In April, 1857, Judge Wakeley landed in Omaha, having come by steamer from St. Louis. The trip occupied thirteen days. A heavy snow storm prevailed during a part of the journey. It will be remembered that this was the spring following the terrible winter of 1856-57. The bones and carcasses of cattle were strewn along the roads and the river banks : immense snow heaps were in the ravines be- tween the bluffs : cold bleak winds swept over the unset- tled prairies, and everything was in dismal contrast with
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the cultivated farms, comfortable homes, and cities and towns of to-day. But the first warm rains of May trans- `formed all into beauty, prefiguring the future of the state.
Judge Wakeley's jurisdiction covered the Third dis- trict, extending from Washington county to Cedar, inclu- sive, taking in all the river counties. To this district was
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JUDGE ELEAZER WAKELEY.
attached, by law, for judicial purposes, all the unorganized territory west to the Rocky mountains and north to the British possessions. This vast area of country was then all in Nebraska territory, and was the largest judicial district, territorially, in the United States. The district was new, only a few terms having been held, and those irregularly. His predecessor, Judge James Bradley, had been appointed
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from Indiana, and had resigned. Fenner Ferguson was the chief justice of the territory, and Samuel W. Black, who . afterwards became governor, was associate justice in the Second district. In the fall of 1857 Judge Ferguson was elected delegate to congress, and Augustus Hall, a lawyer of distinction and ex-member of congress from Iowa, was appointed his successor as chief justice, locating in Belle- vue, where Judge Ferguson resided. William A. Richard- son, who succeeded Izard as governor, resigned in 1860, and Judge Black was thereupon appointed governor, he being succeeded as associate justice by Judge Miller. Judge Wakeley's first term of court was held at Tekamah in Burt county. He opened and closed it within an hour, in the residence of Judge Hyde, who was clerk of the court. When he opened court in Dakota county his first act was to fine the sheriff $25 for non-attendance. The fine, how- ever, was remitted the next morning. upon the prompt ap- pearance of the sheriff. From that time on every term dur- ing Judge Wakeley's incumbency of office was held on the day appointed, except one, when a postponement for a few days was necessary by reason of sickness, and the docket was always cleared.
It was a pioneer country, so far as facilities and con- veniences for court were concerned; but litigants got the law as the judge understood it, "without fear, favor, or hope of reward." Litigation increased rapidly. and was dispatched promptly and methodically; and the judge gave great satisfaction in the performance of his official duties. He was reappointed by President Buchanan, in January, 1861, without opposition; but he did not survive "Old Abe's" clean sweep through the territories, which brought us Al- vin Saunders as governor, William Pitt Kellogg as chief justice, and Lockwood and Streeter, as associates. There- upon Judge Wakeley, pursuant to a purpose previously formed, returned to Wisconsin, and resumed the practice of his profession at Madison, the state capital. He soon built up a large and successful practice in the central counties, and in the supreme court. His brother, C. T. Wakeley, was associated with him, and also, for a short time, W. F. Vilas, who was then a very promising young man, and now secre- tary of the interior. The idea of returning eventually to Omaha-"the animus revertendi," in legal phrase-had all the
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time a strong hold upon Judge Wakeley, and, in 1867, he came back to this city, bringing with him his family. He has ever since made Omaha his home. Upon his return to this city, he at once secured a large practice, absorbing all his time and energies, to the exclusion of other activities. His practice was varied, running through all departments, except the criminal, for which he had an aversion. For seven years. from 1871 to 1878, he was assistant attorney in Nebraska for the Union Pacific railway company, doing a large share of the preparation and trial work in the state and federal courts. In 1883, after thirty-seven years at the bar, Judge Wakeley accepted the appointment of dis- trict judge from Governor Dawes, whose action was based upon the general recommendation of the bar and the ap- proval of citizens, without regard to politics. In the fall of the same year he was unanimously elected for four years to the judgeship, together with Judge Neville; and re- elected in 1887, on a non-partisan ticket by about 4,700 majority in this republican district. While located at Madi- son, Wisconsin, Judge Wakeley ran for attorney-general on the democratic ticket, but was defeated, and when afterwards offered the nomination for supreme judge, he declined the honor. In Nebraska he was a member of the constitutional convention of 1871, and once ran for supreme judge, but was defeated. He has always, with local exceptions, been in the political minority. Although several times a candi- date for office, when urged upon him, he has declined much oftener than accepted, preferring to try to "pay the debt which every man owes his profession." But for political reasons he would, no doubt, if he desired, have been on the supreme bench of Nebraska. He has had a busy, active, and successful professional life, gratifying his love of reading and study as opportunity has offered. As a citizen, lawyer, and judge his career is without spot or blemish. Judge Wakeley has always been very popular with the lawyers of Douglas county, and the high esteem in which he is held as a judge is attested by the fact that he was unanimously recom . mended by the bar, and after five years of service with dis- tinction he was unanimously endorsed and recommended for re-election. It is conceded that there is no more accurate legal mind in Nebraska than that of Judge Wakeley, whose
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erudition, impartiality and clear intuition of right and wrong have earned for him the title of the "Just Judge." His public career and private life may well be taken as a model by all young men. He has four sons grown to manhood, to take up the activities of life as he lays them aside. One of these sons, Arthur C. Wakeley, is following in the footsteps of his father, having already met with gratifying success in the practice of law.
United States Senator Algernon Sidney Paddock was one of the early settlers of Omaha. He was born at Glen's Falls, New York. November 5, 1830. His father, Ira A. Paddock, who was a prominent lawyer, had resided there from early youth until his death in 1862. At the age of thirteen young Paddock entered the Glen's Falls academy, remaining there five years. He then went to Union col- lege, and there pursued his studies to the senior year. Leaving college at this time he went to Detroit, Michigan, and taught school for three months. Returning to New York state he continued to teach, and at the same time, during his leisure hours, studied law. In May, 1857, Mr. Paddock landed in Omaha, having come from St. Louis on a steamer, the trip occupying nearly a whole week. He pre-empted a farm near Fort Calhoun, and made it his country home until 1872, in which year he moved to Beatrice, Gage county, where he has since resided. While living at Calhoun he spent a great deal of his time in Oma- ha, and during the years 1858-59 he was engaged in editorial work on the Omaha Republican. In 1860 Mr. Paddock was sent as a delegate to the national republican convention that nominated Lincoln, and during the balance of the cam- paign be stumped New York state for the ticket. In 1861 he was appointed secretary of the territory of Nebraska, in 1864 he was a delegate to the national republican conven- tion at Baltimore, and in 1867 he was a candidate for the United States senate, but was defeated by General Thayer. The next year President Johnson nominated him governor of Wyoming territory, but he declined the honor. In the winter of 1875, Mr Paddock was again a candidate for the United States senate, and this time he was elected. He was a candidate for re-election in 1881, but was defeated by Hon. C. H. Van Wyck, upon the eighteenth ballot. Mr. Paddock was sent back to the senate in 1887, defeating Senator Van
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Wyck, who was a candidate for re-election. Thus it will be seen that Senator Paddock has played an important part in Nebraska politics. Mr. Paddock has done much to- wards the advancement of Omaha and Nebraska. To him, more than to any other man belongs the credit of the estab- lishment of the military district of Nebraska, which resulted
SENATOR A. S. PADDOCK.
in the department of the Platte with headquarters at Omaha. While he was in the senate the first time he secured an appropriation of $60,000 for Fort Omaha, and $30,000 for a quartermaster and commissary depot. Senator Paddock was one of the principal projectors of the Omaha & Northwestern railroad, owning one-twentieth of it from the beginning of the enterprise until it was completed to the
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Platte and sold to the B. & M. He was the only stock- holder and director who was opposed to the sale of the road. The first appropriations for river improvements at Omaha were secured by Senator Paddock through amend- ments to the river and harbor bill, and large amounts were thus obtained. When he left the senate, at the end of his first term, these appropriations were dropped, and it is per- haps a significant fact that since his return to that body they have been taken up again. Among the bills he "fathered," which were of national interest, was the timber culture act, familiar in its operations to all western land- holders. When the Utah commission was organized Mr. Paddock was made a member of that board, and he gave the matters coming within its jurisdiction more earnest attention perhaps than any other member.
Mr. Paddock was one of the original and largest invest- ors in the construction of the Omaha street railway, and it is rather singular that he yet holds his original stock. In the Grand Central hotel enterprise he was one of the orig- inal projectors, and one of the few men who put in money on second mortgage to finish the building, and this, too, after he had left Omaha to make Beatrice his home. In recent years Mr. Paddock has invested a great deal of money in Omaha, and among the many handsome and sub- stantial buildings that have been erected in the city the Paddock building, occupied by wholesale firms, is one of the most attractive and solid structures. He has also invested largely in Beatrice. and has done everything in his power to promote the interests of that city. Personally Senator Paddock is one of the most popular men in Nebras- ka. His most marked characteristic is his sanguine feelings in whatever of importance he undertakes. In both of his senatorial contests he displayed that quality in a remarkable degree, expressing a firm conviction of his success months in advance of the election, although many of his warmest friends were of an opposite opinion. He is a man of fine appearance and physique, well preserved and active, with the promise of many years of usefulness before him.
Hon. Charles H. Brown, who has been prominently identified with the growth of Omaha and Nebraska for over a quarter of a century. was born at Stephentown, New York. His preliminary education was acquired at Willis-
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ton seminary, Massachuetts, and at the Delaware Literary institute, Franklin, New York. Graduating from Williams college in 1858, he entered upon the study of law in Troy, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar. He immediately came to Omaha, and being in poor health concluded to "rough it" on the plains until his complete recovery. He accordingly crossed the plains with a freighting outfit to
HON. CHARLES H. BROWN.
Denver. after which he was employed in the construction of the Pacific telegraph line to Salt Lake. Returning to Omaha Mr. Brown found employment as a clerk in his brother's store from December, 1861, to October, 1862. At this time Mr. George I. Gilbert resigned the position of prosecuting attorney of Douglas county, and Mr. Brown was elected to fill the vacancy. It was during his term of
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office that Mr. Brown secured the conviction of Judge Cyrus H. Tator for the murder and robbery of Isaac H. Neff. Hon. A. J. Poppleton and William A. Little con- ducted the defense. Tator was the first man legally executed in Nebraska. In 1863 Mr. Brown was re-elected, and in 1864 he was chosen as a member of the constitutional convention. In the fall of the same year he was elected to the legislature. The next year he was elected to the city council of Omaha, and in 1867 he became the mayor of the city and ex-officio judge of the city court. During his term of one year he heard and disposed of over four thou- sand cases. On entering the office of mayor he found the city in debt $60,000: on leaving it, that debt had been paid, and there was a cash balance of over $8,000 in the treasury. In 1869 Mr. Brown received the democratic vote in the leg- islature for United States senator. In 1875 he was again a member of a constitutional convention, and aided in forming our present constitution. In 1876 he was elected to the state senate, and re-elected in 1878, and again in 1882. Since the close of his last term he has devoted himself to the practice of his profession.
Alvin Saunders, who was the territorial governor of Nebraska from 1861 to 1867, and who represented Nebraska in the United States senate from 1877 to 1883, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Fleming county, July 12. 1817. When he was twelve years old his parents moved to Illi- nois, and engaged in farming. In 1836 young Saunders left the farm and began life for himself. He came west and halted at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in which vicinity he for a time found employment on a farm. He next worked in a country store. His evenings were spent at a night school, where he added as much as was possible to his education. In due course of time an elder brother took him into a busi- ness partnership. President Van Buren appointed him the first postmaster of Mount Pleasant, in 1837, notwithstand- ing he was a whig. He was appointed because no one else would take the office. President Polk removed Mr. Saun- ders from this postmastership in 1847. This led to his elec- tion, in the same year, to the constitutional convention which framed the constitution under which Iowa became a state. From this time Mr. Saunders became quite promi- nent in politics. He was twice elected to the Iowa state
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