History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 51

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 51

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Pierce Eldimelaugh

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CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

John A. Williams, a young colored minis- ter of education and theological training, became the pastor in June, 1891.

Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church is located at 1216 Dodge Street, where the members of this congregation have worshiped since the summer of 1891. There are one hundred and fifty members, and the congregation is usually large. Rev. J. R. Richardson is pastor.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Omaha, was organized in 1865, with

Thirteenth, and then a change was made to a frame building on Farnam which occupied the present site of M. H. Bliss' crockery establishment. In a short time better quar- ters were secured in Mr. Poppleton's build- ing, corner of Tenth and Farnam. Some two years later the association moved up town again and for a time was quartered in a building occupying the present site of the Barker block, Farnam and Fifteenth. The re-organization of this building neces- sitated another move and rooms in the L. B.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING.

Watson B. Smith, president; Wm. Flem- ing, treasurer and Dr. J. C. Denise, secre- tary. A two-story building, on Twelfth Street between Farnam and Douglas, was erected at a cost of $2,600, with a very good library and reading room on the first floor and a room for public services on the second. In the course of a few years the organization ceased to exist and the property was devoted to other uses. In 1877 a re-organization was effected and the association put upon a more substantial basis. Rooms were secured over Huber- man's jewelry store, corner of Douglas and

William's building, corner of Dodge and Fifteenth, were secured and here the associa- tion remained until July, 1888, when posses- sion was taken of the four upper floors of the substantial association building at the corner of Douglas and Sixteenth Streets, completed at a cost of $90,000, including heating and furniture. The lot cost $25,000, in 1866, and is now valued at $100,000. The association now stands upon a sub- stantial basis. All of the modern improve- ments are found in the building and the social, religious, athletic and educational features of the association's management

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

have brought under its influence hundreds of young men who might not have been reached otherwise. In the success which has been achieved during the past few years the late Pierce C. Himebaugh is entitled to unlimited credit. He contributed liberally of his means to secure the purchase of the ground and erection of the building and devoted years of earnest, personal effort to the details of the work, imbuing others with his own zeal, enterprise and unflagging courage in the midst of great financial difficulties.

On September 15, 1891, Frank W. Ober became General Secretary of the Associa- tion and since that time the institution has enjoyed a season of prosperity. The cur- rent expenses of the Association and im- provements were $11,231.11 the past year.

The secretary's report shows the following receipts from May 1, 1891, to May 1, 1892: Memberships, $5,304.50; subscriptions, $4,- 520.57; rent of halls, 8824.50; Star course, $262.71; miscellaneous, 8346.02. Total, $11,258.30. Receipts from rentals of stores, $8,675.00.

The above amount has been applied to the payment of interest on mortgage, taxes, repairs, insurance, improvements and $1,500 towards the payment of old floating indebt- edness, none being available for use in cur- rent expenses.

The treasurer reports that on May 22, 1891, from the best figures then obtainable, the floating indebtedness was $8.302.71. "If we add to our present bills payable, (viz., notes for $2,300) the note of $3,500 given for old indebtedness contracted principally in finishing the building and to be paid out of the balance received from rentals of building, our present floating indebtedness is $5,800, being a reduction of $2.502.71 in the past year. There are also pledges on the books, most of which are good, for $2,800. As far as known every outstanding bill against the association has been met in full."

The membership November 1, 1892, was

775, and rapidly increasing. A number of leading young men of the business and social circles of the city are members.

The officers of the association are: A. P. Tukey, president; C. A. Starr, Esq., vice- president, William II. Russell, treasurer, Charles E. Williamson, recording secretary. The executive officers are: Frank W. Ober, general secretary; Otto D. Ileissenbuttel, assistant secretary; Frank R. Roberson, assistant secretary; W. S. Sheldon, physical director.

Bishop James O'Gorman, who was so closely identified with the interests of the Catholic Church throughout the west, was consecrated vicar-apostolic of this See May 8, 1859, and removed to Omaha immediately afterwards. IIe was born in the County Limerick, Ireland, in 1809, and at the age of nineteen entered the Monastery of Mount Melarry, joining the Trappist order, though his family were generally Protestants. In due time he was ordained priest and in 1830 was sent to America to establish a branch of the order at Dubuque, Iowa, to which he gave the name of the New Melarry. It was owing to his efforts that the Mercy Hospital (now St. Joseph's) was established and that the St Mary's Convent was built. IIe did not exhibit the business enterprise which characterized his successor, Bishop O'Con- nor, but was a very popular man with all classes of people and especially beloved by those of his religious belief. He died July 4th, 1874, and his remains were buried under the altar of St. Philomena Cathedral.

Bishop Robert Clarkson (Episcopal) was appointed missionary bishop of Nebraska and Dakota in 1865, and was consecrated November 15. He was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1826, and educated at Pennsylvania College, Gettys- burg, graduating in 1844. Four years later he was married at llagerstown, Maryland, to Miss . McPherson and removed at once to Chicago, where he became rector of St. James Episcopal Church, where he remained seven

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teen years. In 1857 he received the degree of D. D. from Pennsylvania College and in 1872 the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the Racine, Wisconsin, College, and also by the Nebraska University. Com- ing to Omaha in 1865, Bishop Clarkson made this city his home until the day of his death, March 10, 1884, beloved and honored by the entire community. IIis remains are buried in the shadow of the beautiful Trin- ity cathedral, whose building was largely due to liis efforts, in a spot he had selected for that purpose.

Bishop James O'Connor was consecrated bishop of Dibona and vicar-apostolic of Nebraska August 20, 1876, at St. Charles Seminary, near Philadelphia, and located in Omaha the following month, accompanied by Arch-Bishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, who preached the installation sermon. Bishop O'Connor's diocese included Nebraska, Wyoming, that portion of Montana which lies east of the Rocky Mountains and the part of Dakota which lies west of the Missouri River. He died in this city May 27, 1890. During his life here he was recognized as a man of the highest personal character, of broad and liberal views and possessed of a remarkable knowledge of men and affairs. His popularity was not con- fined to those of his own faith, and he was universally respected and esteemed. Bishop O'Connor was born in Queenstown, Ireland, September 10, 1823, and came to America at the age of fifteen, in company with his brother, Michael O'Connor, afterwards bishop of Pittsburg. A few years were spent in study at St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia, and he was then sent to Rome, where he was ordained priest in 1845. Returning to this country he was appointed president of St. Michael, Pennsylvania, in 1857, and in 1864 was transferred to St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia. In 1872 he was appointed pastor of St. Dominic's Church, Holmesburg, Pennsylvania, and in 1876 was made a bishop.

Bishop R. Scannell, recently appointed to the See of Omaha, was born in Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland, in 1845. He was ordained in 1871 and came to America the following year, locating at Nashville, Ten- nessee, where he was assistant pastor at the cathedral for two years and then took charge of a church in West Nashville. Later he was appointed vicar-general of that diocese. In 1883 he secured the erection of St. Joseph's Church, in West Nashville, and organized a prosperous congregation. In December, 1888, he was consecrated Bishop of Concordia, Kansas, and on the 21st of March, 1891, was appointed to his present position. The installation services, held on the 12th of April, at St. Philomena's Cathe- dral, were of the most solemn and impressive character. The closing address was made by Bishop Hennessey, of Wichita, Kansas, in the course of which he said: "Thirty years ago the saintly Bishop O'Gorman received episcopal consecration. As a child I knelt at his side and held the crozier. He came here to an almost trackless desert, suf- fering the inconvenience, almost of a rudi- mentary civilization. Ile was succeeded by the amiable, the gentle, the intellectual James O'Connor, whose noble qualities added lustre to the higher art of America, while his grand administrative abilities give this See of Omaha an importance second to none in the west."

Bishop John P. Newman was born in New York City, September 1, 1826, and educated at Cazenovia Seminary, New York. In 1849 he became a minister in the Methodist Church. The years 1860-61 he spent in European travel, passing some time in Pales- tine and Egypt. In 1869 he was installed pastor of the Metropolitan Church in Wash- ington, where he remained until 1874, to which church he returned in 1876 and served three years, again returning in 1884 and serving as pastor for another term of three years. From 1869 to 1874 he was chaplain of the United States Senate, and in the latter

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

year was sent abroad by President Grant, as Inspector of Consuls. He was appointed by his church denomination, in 1876, one of the commissioners to adjust the differences be- tween the northern and southern branches of the Methodist Church, and in 1881 was a member of the Ecumenical Council, which assembled in London, England. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him in 1863, and that of LL. D. in 1887. At the general conference of 1888 he was elected bishop and Omaha was selected as his episcopal res- idence, in September of that year. October 8th, of that year, he was tendered a public reception in the First Methodist Church, where addresses of welcome were delivered by John M. Thurston, Esq., and Governor John M. Thayer. A banquet at the Paxton Hotel followed and was rendered a memor- able occasion. Bishop Newman's reputation is national, and he has long been considered one of the most distinguished men of his denomination. He spent part of the year 1890 in establishing missions in Japan.

On Christmas Day, 1855, Rev. Reuben Gaylord arrived. in Omaha with his family. He came to make the new settlement his permanent home, and to aid in building up a religious sentiment in the West. He was a pioneer by instinct, having located at Jack- sonville, Illinois, in 1835, and at Danville, Iowa, in 1844, when those sections of country were wild. and settlers few and widely scat- tered. Ile came to Nebraska in the service of the American Home Missionary Society, Congregational, and was paid a salary of only fifty dollars per month, though the cost of living here then was so great as to render that amount entirely insufficient to support his family. He went to work with energy and zeal, however, preaching Sunday after- noons in the old State house; services being held in the same building in the forenoon by Rev. Isaac F. Collins, a Methodist clergy- man, and at night by Rev. William Leach, of the Baptist denomination. In 1856 Mr. Gaylord succeeded in securing the erection

of a small brick church, which fronted east on Sixteenth Street, between Farnam and the alley just north. It had seating capacity for 225 persons, and cost $4,500. On the 17th and 18th of June, 1857, a fair was held by the ladies to get money enough to fur- nish the church, and in this way raised about four hundred dollars clear of expenses. Mr. Gaylord's work extended throughout the eastern part of Nebraska. Ile organized churches at Fontenelle, Fremont, Bellevue, Florence, Calhoun, Decatur, Brownville, and other places, besides devoting much time, in 1859, to collecting funds in the East, to aid in the carrying forward of an enterprise to establish a college at Fontenelle. He was the pastor of the First Congregational Church of this city until 1864, when he re- signed to accept the agency of the American Ilome Missionary Society for Nebraska and lowa. At the time of his death he was in charge of a church at Fontenelle, the second of his denomination organized in Nebraska. He died January 10, 1880, and was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery. His widow and son, Ralph E., reside here, and a married daugh- ter, Mrs. S. C. Brewster, lives at Irvington, Nebraska.

The late Rev. William McCandlish was a clergyman who will long be remembered throughout the West. Bishop Clarkson was accustomed to say of him that he "ought to have been a bishop." His residence in Ne- braska dated back to the fall of 1858, when he located at Fontenelle, but a few years later he became a citizen of Omaha and so remained until his death in 1884. The house he built in 1868, at the head of St. Mary's Avenue, is still standing. Mr. McCandlish was born in Kirkcudbright- shire, Scotland, September 12, 1810, and came to this country with his parents when he was seven years old, locating at Newville, Pennsylvania. He was edu- cated at Washington and Jefferson Colleges. graduating in 1834, and the last journey of his life was made in June, 1884, when he

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CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

attended a meeting at the old college, of his classmates, who had separated half a century before. He pursued his theological course at the Allegheny Seminary, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church. September 10, 1838, he was married at Allegheny City to Miss Maria Howells, a cousin of W. D. Howells, the author, and took charge of a church at Wooster, Ohio. A few years later he moved to Illinois, and for a time was pastor of a church in Quincy, of which O. Browning, of President Lincoln's cabinet, was one of the supporters. For thirteen years he was super- intendent of the American Bible Society, in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. Dakota and Utah being also included in his terri- tory a large portion of that time. The last act of his life, August 5, 1884, was to carry a bible to a neighbor a few blocks from his

home. Returning, he said he would lie down for a short time, as he felt chilly. An hour later his wife visited his room to find that in that brief interval the last great change had come, and that an earnest, loyal Christian soul had assumed immortality. Mr. McCandlish was a man of the highest integrity, devoted to the advancement of the Christian religion, but allowing, in his dealings with men, for those differences in opinion which circumstances and early asso- ciations naturally create. His manners were simple and unaffected, commanding respect and esteem from all with whom he was brought in contact. Three of his six chil- dren are still living: W. N., Isabella S. and Robert C. Mrs. McCandlish died in this city December 28, 1887.

Rev. Thomas B. Lemon came to Nebraska in 1856, with a view of practicing his pro- fession as a lawyer, locating at Bellevue, where he was admitted to the bar. Two years later he entered the ministry of the Methodist denomination and until his death, in March, 1890, was a zealous, earnest preacher of the gospel. A man of com- manding influence and force of character

and, withal, eloquent and gifted of speech, and of winning manners. As one of the early pastors of the First Church of Omaha and, later, as presiding elder of this district, he bore an active part in pioneer Christian work in this section of Nebraska. At one time he held religious services in the Acad- emy of Music, soon after that building was completed, and thereby reached a class of people that never visited the churches. Just before leaving Maryland he was mar- ried to Miss Margaret B. Waters, who sur- vives him and is yet a resident of Omaha. Their family consisted of Thomas B. W., A. R., Maggie E. (now Mrs. A. B. Smith) Della M. (now Mrs. J. W. Maynard) and Walter W.

Rev. Thomas McCague was the pioneer minister of the United Presbyterian Church here. He was born in Ripley, Ohio, in 1825, and has the distinction of being the first American missionary in Egypt, to which country he was sent in 1854, remain- ing six years. In July, 1867, he came from Nebraska City to Omaha by direction of the board of missions of his denomination, to organize a church here. This he did, ser- vices being first held in what was known as Beal's School House, corner of Fifteenth and Capitol Avenue. At the end of the year the board decided to suspend work in Omaha, and then Mr. McCague took the matter in his own hands, put up a small church building on South Tenth Street, in one corner of the lot his home occupied, and for four years struggled along without any financial aid from the board. His earnest- ness as a pastor and high character as a citi- zen secured hosts of warm personal friends, and he has lived to see his denomination well established and prosperous in every way. He was married in Warren County, Ohio, to Miss Henrietta M. Lowes, in July, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. McCague have nine children: John L., Margaret M., (now Mrs. Albert Gordon) William L., Thomas H., Josie M. (now Mrs. J. II. McCulloch), Annie N.,

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

Lydia S., George S. and Brower E., all residents of Omaha except Mrs. Gordon, whose husband is pastor of a church at Alli- ance, Nebraska.

Of the Lutheran church in Omaha, the Rev. Henry W. Kuhns is the pioneer, in fact he was the first of his denomination to locate in Nebraska, coming here in 1858 as a mis- sionary, with a commission which described his field as including Omaha, and adjacent parts, and really embracing a large scope of country west of the Missouri River, in which there are now about three hundred Lutheran ministers, with a membership of over nine thousand. Mr. Kuhns began his work in this city on a salary of five hundred dollars a year. Services were first held in the Methodist Church, on Thirteentli Street, and then in the Congregational Church, on Sixteenth Street. In 1860 a small

brick church building was erected on a lot on Douglas Street, which is now a portion of the site of the Millard IIotel. Owing to ill- health Mr. Kuhns resigned his pastorate in 1872, and for several years resided in the southern States, returning to Omaha in 1887 to live a quiet, retired life, but still con- tinuing in the ministry. In the early his- tory of the Nebraska Deaf and Dumb In- stitute Mr. Kuhns was closely identified with it, serving five years as secretary of the di- rectory, and it is chiefly due to his efforts that the institution was located here. He was born August 23, 1829, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and was educated at Gettys- burg. October 18, 1860, he was married to Miss Charlotte J. Ilay, of Johnstown, Penn- sylvania. They have three children living: Luther M., pastor of the Grace Lutheran Church of this city, Paul W. and John II.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CATHOLICISM IN OMAHA - CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS - CREIGIITON COLLEGE.

[Miss Stacia Crowley furnished the facts as set forth in this chapter.]

On or about May 15, 1855, in the court room of the old State House, then standing on the west side of Ninth Street, between Farnam and Douglas, was celebrated the first church services, in Nebraska, according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

The celebrant was Rev. Father W. Emonds, who had been brought here from St. Joseph by Mr. Jeremiah Dee, when he visited that city for supplies. A temporary altar was draped, and Mrs. Thomas O'Connor, still a resident of this city, brought from her home near by, a pitcher of water to be used during the service. Mr. John Kelley, now living in Washington County, served at this mass. Father Emonds remained a short time, and funds were collected toward the erection of a church.

There are still many men living in Omaha who remember with a smile and a sigh, the thrill and excitement of the day when it was announced, in the vocabulary of the times, that " the Irish are jumping the park!" A strip of ground a block in width, extending from Jackson to Davenport Streets, had been set aside by the founders of the town for park purposes. The men who were engaged in digging the foundations for the first Cath- olie Church were thought to be encroaching upon this territory. Every man in the pop- ulation, and a great many of the women, were soon on the grounds, and what affords many rather laughable stories to-day, threatened to be a very serious matter then. It was, however, decided that the trenches were dug outside of the park and on lots donated to

the church people by the Council Bluffs & Nebraska Ferry Company.

In the spring of 1856 the contract was let for the building of the first church edifice in Nebraska. It was erected where the exca- vation had been made, on the northeast cor- ner of Eighth and Howard Streets. It was a brick building twenty-four by forty feet. The stone foundations were laid by Ferry & Jenkinson, who also laid the foundations of the capitol building. The stone was brought from Lutz's quarry at first, but some of it came from J. B. Mold's and some from John Green's. The brick work was done by Bovey & Armstrong, also builders of the capitol, and to Mr. Henry Livesey belongs the dis- tinction of having laid the first brick in the first church building erected in Nebraska. The carpenter work was done by Wolfel & Baker, of Columbus.

While this building was under way, Father Scanlan, of St. Joseph, arrived and celebrated the second mass, in the parlor of Governor T. B. Cuming, whose beautiful and cultured young wife was a zealous Catholic. This quaint and picturesque old house is still standing, surrounded by a spacious lawn and orchard, on the southwest corner of Dodge and Eighteenth Streets. Having been com- pleted, the church was dedicated "St. Mary's " by Rev. Father Scanlan, in August, 1856. On this same day, by way of a begin- ning, the reverend gentleman administered the sacrament of baptism to fifteen babies. Some of the families connected with the opening of the old church, were the Begleys, Burkleys, Corrigans, Cassidys, Creightons, Dees, Ferrys, Gradys, Hughes, Ilickeys,

345

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

Holmes, Kelleys, Kenelleys, Murphys, Mc- Governs, McArdles, McDonalds, O'Connors, Ryans, Rileys, Swifts, Suttons, Tiernans and Toners.

For some time services were conducted by visiting priests, and not until the fall of 1857 was the first regular pastor appointed. There is no official record of the pastors, but as nearly as can be learned from regular at- tendants of this church, they came in the following order: Fathers Kavanagh, Pow- ers, Cannon, Dillon, McMahon, Lawrence, Kelley, Hayes, Daxacher, Greenabaum, Egan and Curtis. The first organist was Miss

ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. First Catholic Church in Omaha.

Celia Burkley, and the principal members of the choir were Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Burkley and Mr. and Mrs. Bremer.

In the winter of 1858 the vicarate of Kan- sas and Nebraska was divided, and Rev. James O'Gorman, of the Trappist Monastery near Dubuque, Iowa, was appointed vicar apostolic of Nebraska, and titular Bishop of Raphanea. He was consecrated at St. Louis, May 10, 1859, and came to Omaha the latter part of the same month. One of the first ceremonies in which he assisted after his ar- rival was the ordination of Rev. William Kelley. This took place in the church on Eighth Street, June 25, 1859. Father Kelley

was therefore the first priest ordained in the diocese. He is still connected with the cathedral, and for the past few years it has been a common request at weddings that Father Kelley may be allowed to officiate, the request being usually supplemented by the explanation: " He married my father and mother."

When Bishop O'Gorman arrived in Omaha he found only two Catholic clergymen min- istering to about three hundred families scattered all over the territory. He decided after some hesitation to locate here; but for some reason did not accept the title to sixty- three full lots offered by way of in- ducement. Had he done so, the church in Omaha would have been the richer to-day by a few millions. He first resided in a white frame house on the southwest corner of Harney and Eighth Streets, vacated for that purpose by Mr. Thomas O'Connor. Later he purchased from the father of Mr. Lyman Richard- son, the property on which St. Phil- omena's Cathedral now stands, on Ninth and Harney Streets. On this property Mr. Richardson had erected a house, which was for many years the bishop's residence. Within its walls this venerable and beloved prelate breathed his last, July 4, 1874. It served as a residence for the priests connected with the cathedral until 1889, when it was taken down and the present handsome brick structure took its place. After the coming of the bishop, the little church on Eighth Street, with its unpainted wooden cross, was elevated to the dignity of a cathedral.

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 51

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020