History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 72

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

C. B. Connor is a wholesale dealer in for- eign wines, liquors and cigars, at 1409 Dong- las Street. IIe opened this house at the beginning of the year 1892.

McGuire & Co., wholesale liquor dealers, opened a store at 216 South Fourteenth Street, in March, 1892.

Grotte & Co., successors to R. R. Grotte, conduct a wholesale liquor store at 1020 and 1022 Farnam Street.

WHOLESALE DEALERS IN BEER.

The Anheuser-Busch Brewing Associa- tion, of St. Louis, Missouri, established a branch business here in 1874, shipping in car load lots of beer, ller & Co. being the Omaha representatives till 1879, at which time the company established itself in quarters on Capitol Avenue. In 1887 the company, having outgrown its accommodations,erected at the corner of Thirteenth and Jones Streets, a refrigerator capable of holding ten cars of beer, also a stable with accommodations for fifteen horses, an office, and a bottling de- partment, for its business, and a three-story pressed brick building which is rented. The company employs ten nen, and disposes of eighteen or twenty thousand barrels of beer and six thousand casks of bottled beer, an- nually, in Omaha. The business is under the efficient management of General Agent George Krug, assisted by Julius Bursler.

The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, of Milwaukee, has a branch house here, at South Ninth and Leavenworth Streets, John Mar- hover, agent. The wholesale business of this firm is handled by R. R. Grotte. This com-

pany is now erecting, on the lot facing Six- teenth Street, and south of the Board of Trade Building, a structure to cost $100,000 when completed.

W. J. Lemp, of St. Louis, established an agency here in 1887, from which the city trade and a small portion of this State and Iowa are supplied with beer. The amount handled here is nine thousand barrels an- nually. Seven men and four teams are em- ployed The sub-agencies through the State are not supplied from here, but from the brewery in St. Louis. In 1888 a brick office, storage-room and stable were erected at 1517 Nicholas Street, where the Omaha head- quarters are located. P. J. Boysen is city agent.

LUMBER.

Although the City of Omaha is built very largely of brick and stone, and other imper- ishable materials, yet, its rapid growth in the last six years, from 40,000 to 140,000 inhabitants, and the large number of build- ings necessary to shelter the increased popu- lation, have required the erection of a very large number of structures of wood. As a consequence of the demand for material of this kind, both for the city retail trade and for the wholesale business in the State, a large trade in lumber has developed. Fol- lowing is some account of the firms engaged in the lumber trade:

George A. IIoagland has been in the whole- sale and retail lumber business, in this city, since 1861. In the spring of that year the present business was started, George T. Hoagland and George Bebbington, of St. Joseph, Missouri, forming a co-partnership as George T. IIoagland & Co., and making use of the opportunity offered to ship a suf- ficient quantity of lumber to Omaha on the steamer Lizzie Bayliss, afterwards used as a ferry-boat between Council Bluffs and Omaha, to start a yard, of which Mr. Beb- bington took charge. The stock did not amount to more than five or six car loads, but it was enough to inaugurate a fully

486

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

equipped yard in the then little village of Omaha. The site for the business was on Visscher's property, where the Millard Hotel now stands. The office occupied a small room in the second story of Visscher's car- penter shop. George A. Hoagland came to Omaha in the fall after the yard was started and became an employe of the firm. In the year 1865, Mr. Bebbington retired from the partnership, which then became George T. Hoagland & Son, and so continued till Jan- uary, 1874, when George A. Iloagland pur- chased his father's interest, and became sole proprietor of the business. Mr. Hoagland has had some experience with both fire and flood. On Christmas night, 1870, an employe, who slept in the office at the lower yard, al- lowed it to take fire and burn up, destroy- ing about three thousand dollars worth of property. An examination of the locality after the fire revealed the charred remains of the unfortunate employe, who had, him- self, perished in the flames, the victim of his own carelessness. In the spring of 1881, the great flood swept over Mr. Hoagland's yard and damaged the stock to the extent of ten or twenty thousand dollars. In the days of steamboat navigation on the river, the lum- ber was unloaded from the boat close to the water's edge, and it was often necessary to work men and teams day and night to save the lumber from falling into the river, which undermined and swept away the banks to a great extent in a very short time. In the spring of 1867 the river was so high that the only available landing place, along tlie Omaha river front, was where the original waterworks pumping engine was afterwards located, and from that place to the mainland lumber had to be towed on a flatboat, made for the purpose. The first shipments of lum- ber, at wholesale, directly from Omaha, were made by George A. Hoagland in 1871-2. Previous to that time these shipments lad been made from Chicago and other points east. The little country yard, which this was, in its early days, requiring only one

or two men to do the work, has now become an establishment requiring eight or nine clerks, and from fifty to one hundred other persons at the Omaha yards alone. Mr. Iloagland has a capital of 8500,000 in the business. The main yards, at the foot of Donglas Street, cover five acres of ground, with a branch yard and business office at the corner of Ninth and Douglas, a large whole- sale and retail yard at Council Bluffs, and nearly twenty branches in the larger towns of this State, which do a retail busi- ness. The stock of lumber carried will av- erage ten million feet.

II. F. Cady, the successor of Cady & Gray, has a large planing mill and sash and door factory located at the foot of Farnam Street, with an extensive lumber yard adjoining it on the north. The business was established in 1867, by llarris & Foster. The death of Mr. Harris left the business in the hands of Win. M. Foster, until January 1, 1875, when the firm of Foster & Guiou was formed, Mr. Charles II. Guion becoming Mr. Foster's partner. This arrangement continued for one year, and then Mr. Foster conducted the business alone until January 1, 1880, when Mr. Gray became a partner, the firm becom- ing Foster & Gray, and two years later, he purchased Mr. Foster's interest, and managed the business under his own name until Jan- mary 1891, when H. F. Cady was associated in the business, the firm name becoming Cady & Gray. On January 1, 1892, Mr. Gray retired from the firm, and II. F. Cady became sole proprietor. The planing mill was built in March, 1889, and during that year Mr. Gray paid out over $100,000 in wages and salaries. Mr. Cady has the con- tract for supplying the lumber for the build- ing for the electric exhibit at the Columbian Exhibition, at Chicago, in 1893, which will cover nine and three-fourth acres of ground, and require seven hundred car loads of lumber in its construction. All the mill work is prepared and sent from Omaha. About five acres of ground is occupied by

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the yard and mills. One hundred and fifty men are steadily employed. The trade, which is almost exclusively wholesale, amounts to 8750,000 per year, and extends over large portions of Nebraska, western Iowa, South Dakota and Colorado.

The Chicago Lumber Company, F. Col- petzer, manager, Charles H. Guiou, assistant manager, conducts an extensive business on Fourteenth Street, near the Union Pacific Railway. The Omaha business was estab- lished in 1876, and there are thirty-two branch yards in this State. The total capital used for the Nebraska business is $1,300,- 000, and the annual sales amount to 82,500,- 000.

John A. Wakefield, located on Pierce Street, from Seventeenth to Eighteenth, has a capital of $150,000, invested in the busi- ness, and his annual sales amount to 8500,000. He deals in lumber, wholesale and retail, and began business in this city in January, 1880. Three acres of land are included in the yard, a peculiar feature of which is a substantial roof, covering the entire area and keeping the whole stock dry. There is not another yard of this size under one roof in the United States.

Louis Bradford, the proprietor of a large lumber yard on Douglas Street, in this city, and other yards at various places in the state, does an extensive wholesale and retail business. This establishment dates from 1879.

C. N. Dietz has been in the lumber busi- ness in Omaha since 1881, and has branch yards at Lincoln, Hastings, Aurora, Brom- field and Trumbull. The Omaha yards are located at Thirteenth and California Streets.

Rittenhouse & Embree, successors to the Omaha Lumber Company, are located at South Eighteenth Street and Union Pacific track. The present firm began business in March, 1891.

The Star-Union Lumber Company, has existed about three years. The business is both retail and jobbing. Yards at Tenth

and Nicholas Streets, and office at 627 Pax- ton Block. Jolin R. Davis is president; Renfrew Stevenson, vice president, and A. J. Whidden, secretary and treasurer.

The Wyatt-Bullard Lumber Company does a wholesale and retail business, at Twen- tieth and Izard Streets. It began business in September, 1890.

F. C. Colpetzer and C. H. Guiou employ seven men at their lumber yard on Eigh- teenth and Nicholas Streets, where they oc- cupy half a block. The business has been running since 1886.

The Hampton Lumber Company incor- porated and began business in January, 1890. E. G. Hampton is president and treasurer, and W. T. Robinson, secretary.

C. L. Chaffee, wholesale dealer in lumber, engaged in business here in 1877, and built up a trade in this line, and in July, 1891, purchased the stock and business of the Howell Lumber Company, which he com- bined with his own, thereby making a busi- ness second to none of this kind in the West. The yards are situated on Twenty-sixth Street and the Union Pacific Railway, and have an area of fifteen acres. The office is located on the main floor of the New York Life Building. Fifty men are employed in the yards, where from five to eleven million feet of lumber are piled.

Charles R. Lee deals in hardwood lumber. Ile has been in the present business since February, 1885, and occupies half a block at southwest corner of Ninth and Douglas Streets. He is the only dealer in hardwood lumber, exclusively, in the city.

COAL.

C. B. Havens, G. W. McGeath and Jolin McGovern formed a copartnership under the style of C. B. Havens & Co., dealers in coal, in 1886, which continued till May, 1891, when Mr. McGeath retired from the business and a new company was formed and incorporated under the same name, with C. B. Havens, president and treasurer; Il. F. Lemist, vice-

488

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

president; G. P. Cronk secretary; and Jolm McGovern. The principal office is at 1506 Farnam Street, with branches at Lincoln, Nebraska and Atchison, Kansas. This firm handles as much as fourteen thousand car loads annually.

The Nebraska Fuel Company was incor- porated in August, 1883. The officers are: George C. Towle, president; George Pater- son, vice president and treasurer, and F. H. Blake, secretary. The company does a whole- sale and retail business, in coal, coke, etc.

The Omaha Coal, Coke and Lime Com- pany, was organized in 1883. The present officers are: J. A. Sunderland, president; L. T. Sunderland, secretary, and J. F. Pollock, treasurer.

P. II. Mahoney & Co., do a wholesale and retail coal business, at 813 North Sixteenth Street, and corner of Tenth and Douglas Streets. This firm, of which Louis Bradford is junior partner, has existed since 1889. This company also does a large amount of contract business in grading and hauling.

Jolinson Brothers are engaged in the retail coal business to some extent, but their busi- ness is mainly teaming. The two employ- ments requiring about thirty men.

The Nebraska Coal and Lime Company. E. A. Blum, president and treasurer, and HI. B. Morrill. secretary, has existed since 1887, and does a jobbing and retail business.

D. T. Mount and J. H. Griffin, as Mount & Griffin, employ thirty men in furnishing fuel to Omaha consumers. For ten years this firm has sprinkled the city's streets, and for two years have employed twenty-five teanis on the contract for street sprinkling, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Contant & Squires succeeded Foster & Gray, as dealers in hard and soft coal, in 1884, and now carry on a busy trade.

Jeff. W. Bedford, deals in coal and other kinds of fuel, lime and other constructive material.

ICE.

The large demand which the various in-

dustries and domestic occupations make for ice, has caused the formation of several ice companies here whose facilities and appli- ances for harvesting annual crops of a super- ior quality of ice, are second to those of no other city on the Missouri River. One of the oldest of these companies is the "Arc- tic Ice Company," which was incorporated in January, 1888, with a capital of $30,000, of which $20,000 is paid in-David Talbot, president and Henry J. Cole secretary and treasurer. The company's ice houses are lo- cated at the foot of Jones Street and below the Pacific railroad bridge. In summer, twenty men and twelve wagons are required to deliver ice. In winter, 150 men are usually kept busy four or five weeks cutting and storing the amount necessary for the next season's trade. The business is largely wholesale. Last year there were shipped to South Omaha, Kansas City and other points, over ten thousand tons. The annual busi- ness is $50,000.

The Crystal Ice Company was incorporated in January, 1889. The officers are William Fitch, president and secretary, and John P. Bay, treasurer. The capital stock is $60,000, fully paid up. This company is the result of the consolidation of the former firm of Fitch & Bay, The Kimball Ice Co., and Ken- nedy & Newell, the latter of which had been in business for twenty years. Fifty men and fifteen or twenty wagons are employed in summer, and in winter, for three or four weeks, from 150 to two hundred men are kept busy. One ice house is located on the corner of Fourth and Pierce Streets, one on Eighth and Nicholas and another at Cut-Off Lake. The capacity of these houses is twenty thou- sand tons. A large part of the business is supplying railroads, breweries, etc. Ice is obtained from Cut-Off Lake, the water works basin and the Missouri River. This Com- pany deals in coal also. The yard is situated at Twelfth and Nicholas Streets. This branch of the business was added two years ago.

The Kimball Ice Company does a local

Jas Stephenson

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business only. J. H. Hungate is one of the veteran ice dealers of Omaha. After many years of service in this line of trade, both alone and as a partner, he bought out Mr. Kimball, his associate, in the fall of 1890, since which time he has been de facto the Kimball Ice Company. The ice houses are on Fifteenth and Grace Streets, where the capacity is fifteen thousand tons and at the reservoir, at the foot of Webster Street, where the capacity is seven thousand tons. The amount annually handled is about fif- teen thousand tons. Twenty men and eight teams are employed in summer; and for six weeks in the winter, about eighty men are required to secure the crop.

II. C. Bostwick and J. C. Sharp with nu- merous partners, started a limited business in 1886, as the South Omaha Ice Company. In 1888 the company was incorporated with A. C. Foster, president, II. C. Bostwick, treasurer, and J. C. Sharp, secretary. The capital stock is ten thousand dollars, fully paid in. The ice it handles is obtained from Swift & Company, of South Omaha, the company not cutting any itself. During the warm season thirty men and eleven teams are employed, and fifteen thousand tons of ice disposed of. J. A. Doe is manager.

F. L. Cotton, dealer in ice, as well as coal and lumber, has been in the ice business for three years past, and handles in the city trade eight thousand tons per year. His ice is cut on the Florence and Walnut Hill reservoirs.

LIVERY STABLES.

James Stephenson is the proprictor of "Stephenson's Superb Stables," at 1001 Ilarney Street. In 1869 he bought a livery business and outfit from Dr. Pinney, of Council Bluffs, which he conducted in a small wooden' building at the southeast corner of Tenth and Harney Streets. IIe built the present handsome brick structure in 1880, at a cost of $35,000, putting into it seventy-five horses, which, with the rolling stock, constitute a finely equipped stable.

He owns another large stable on Nineteenth and Nicholas Streets, which he uses exclu- sively for sheltering two hundred mules and horses, which constitute his grading stock, with which he does a large amount of con- tract work. Stephenson & Williams are proprietors of the Omaha Cab Company.

J. T. Withrow & Co. have done a livery business at 1307 to 1311 Harney Street since 1885. In June, 1891, a fire des- troyed all their carriages. They keep about twenty horses.

J. W. Cotton's livery and sale stables are located at the corner of Fifteenth and Cass Streets. He keeps twelve or fifteen livery horses and boards about forty.

Flanagan & Heafey conduct the "Buck- eye Stable," at 118-420 South Nineteenth Street.

At the corner of Seventeenthi and Daven- port Streets is located the " Palace Stable," a structure 92 feet wide, 130 feet long and four stories in height. It was erected by E. II. Sherwood and completed in November 1887. Alex Benham occupied it a short time only. Mr. Sherwood then took the Benham stock and consolidated with it the livery outfit of James McShane and run the business till 1890, and then Dr. V. II. Coff- man became the owner of the horses and carriages, which he sold to C. T. Taylor, the present proprietor, a year later. There are now in the stable one hundred and five livery horses and from fifty to ninety board- ers and one hundred vehicles.

The Jefferson Square Stable, 420 North Sixteenth Street, is conducted by L. Kroner. Ile kceps twelve or fifteen horses. The building is one of the early structures.

C. II. West is proprietor of a nicely fitted up little stable on the corner of Twenty- eighth and Leavenworth Streets, where about thirty-five horses are boarded. He also keeps a few teams for hire.

G. and L. St. Julian are the proprietors of "The Little Gem Stable," at 1718 Cass Street, which is a very handsome little

490

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMANIA.

structure, built by Mrs. S. R. Myers, in 1890. It has a capacity for accommodating forty- eight horses, and has been occupied by the present management since June 1891.

Edward Baumley, successor to Charles Baumley, has a small stable on St. Mary's Avenue and Seventeenth Streets.

EXPLOSIVES.

Hugh G. Clark was in business in Omaha from 1876 till his death in December, 1892. Beginning in 1876, he was in the general merchandise business until 1884, when he sold out, retaining the agency for various powder and dynamite companies only, which of late years has developed into a large business itself. In connection with a branch, conducted by his son, in Denver, Mr. Clark's business extended as far west as Nevada, and north to Montana. Since Mr. Clark's death the business has been in charge of liis son, Walter G. Clark.

LAUNDRIES.

J. H. Evans bought a half interest in the City Steam Laundry of II. L. Wilkins, in 1878, the firm name then becoming Wilkins « Evans. In 1885 Mr. Wilkins withdrew and Mr. Evans took the business. In 1891 it was incorporated as a stock company, with a paid up capital of $100,000.00, Mr. Evans being president. This company owns and operates five large laundry plants, sit- uated in the following named cities: Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lincoln, Omaha and South Omaha. Neb., with main offices at Omala. These laundries contain the latest improve- ments in machinery and represent a capital of $250,000.00. Over three hundred hands are employed in them.

The Frontier Steam Laundry has been in operation since 1884, when it was started by J. C. Estel, who was succeeded the following year by M. Collins, who still operates it, oc- cupying two stories and a basement, 22×130 feet in size, at 1542 Howard Street, and em- ploying thirty-one persons.

The Nebraska Steam Laundry has been

running since 1885, when it was put in operation by C. S. Poor and S. F. Henry, the latter of whom, still runs it. Fifteen persons are employed.

The Gate City Steam Laundry, situated at 207 Nortlı Seventeenth Street, is opera- ted by Truman Brothers, who have been in the business since May 1890. They employ thirteen persons.

There are thirty-eight other laundries enumerated in the city directory, of various pretentions, tapering down to those of Sim Jin and Yee Sang Charlie.

UNDERTAKING.

M. O. Maul is successor to Drexel & Maul, undertakers and embalmers, 1417 Farnam Street. In the spring of 1865 Jacob Gish, the first regular undertaker in Omaha, estab- lished himself in business and some years later was succeeded by John G. Jacobs, who disposed of the business to Drexel & Maul in December, 1883. This firm was dissolved in 1888, Mr. Maul becoming sole proprietor. Since 1865 Jacob Gish and his successors in business, have occupied the same lot, num- ber 1417 Farnam street.

Ilcafey & lleafey carry on business at 218 and 220 South Fourteenth Street. This house was established about 1877, by Mc- Carty, Donnelly & Co., and, after some changes of proprietorship, came into the hands of Ileafey & Heafey in 1884. In addition to undertaking, a stock of church goods is carried.

II. K. Burket, funeral director and em- balmer, 113 North Sixteenth Street, came to Omaha in 1883, since which time he has been in the present business, in which, he is the longest established director in this city.

Swanson & Valien, corner Seventeenth and Cuming Streets, have been in the under- taking business since October, 1888.

Taggart & Co. are undertakers and em- balmers, at 207 Northi Sixteenth Street. They have been in business in Omaha six years.

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COMMERCE.

The following list comprises the principal trades now represented in Omaha, and gives a close estimate of the capital invested at the close of 1892:

Class

Cap tal Invested

Coal, lime, etc.

$ 255,000

Rubber goods

110.000

Guns and sporting goods

49 000

Seeds

50,000

Safes, scales. etc ..

38.000

Steam, water and railroad supplies

275.000

Sash, doors and blinds

Dry goods.

2.750,000

Boots and shoes

2.600,000

Shelf hardware

2,200,000

Crockery .

158.000

Produce and fruits.

172,000

Leather and shoe findings

100,000

Butter and eggs.

24 000

Harness and saddlery 500,000

Shelf hardware

300,000

Hats. caps and gloves

400,000

Harness and saddlery

210,000

Clothing

550,000

Hats and caps.

85,000

Produce and fruits

1,900,000

Agricultural implements and carriages Iron, steel and heavy hardware

170.000

550,000

Jewelry

155.000

Printers' supplies

190 000

Lumber

1,810 000

Paper

500.000

Liquors

610 000

Paints, oils and glass

430,000

Millinery

55,000

Drug's . ..

1,800,000

Notions

62 000

140,000

Paints and glass

121.000

Oysters and fish

45,000

Agricultural implements.

8,500,000

Photograph supplies.

40 000

Flour.

1,200,000

Paper

70 000

Lumber ..

5,500,000

Artists' materials

10,000

Wall paper

75,000

Books and stationery

70,000

Tea, coffee and spices

Guns and sporting goods

1.785,000

Cigars and tobacco.

255.000

Coal, coke, cement, etc.

1,440.000

Dry goods

700.000

Sales, scales, etc

285,000

Flour

100,000

Crockery

350,000

Furniture

360.000

Furniture ..

1.090 000

Groceries

1.490 000

Oysters aud fish

350 000

Syrups.

45.000

Stoves

215.000

Clothing

155.000

Jewelry

700 000

Carpets

35.000

Notions ...

150,000

Barbers' supplies.

10,000

Twines and cordage.

140,000

Electric supplies

10.000

Printers' supplies.

40,000

Leaf tobacco

20.000

Sash, doors and blinds.

440,000

Surgical instruments

30.000

Books, stationery and periodicals.

700,000

Stoves

90 000

Barbers' supplies.

36,000

Leather and shoe findings.

20.000

Butchers' supplies

85 000

Toys

25,000

Carpets ..

75.000

Twines and cordages.

20.000

Leaf tobacco

90.000

Butchers' supplies

10.000

Toys .. .

90,000

Oils

340 000

Surgical instruments.

45.000

Total

$10,920,000

The trade of the wholesale houses in Omaha during 1893 was unprecedented. The rush of orders was so great as to overtax many houses, and necessitated many enlargements of capital and capacity.

Below is a close estimate of the business done in leading lines by the wholesale houses during the last year, as given by Bradstreet:

Class

Aggregute Pales

Groceries

$10.400,000

Wines and liquors

2,900,000

65 000

Wall paper

16,000

Drugs

455,000

Heavy Hardware

370,000

910.000

Seeds

200 000

Rubber goods

Photograph supplies. ..

2,000 000 70,000 175,000

Boots and shoes

560 000

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 72

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