USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 78
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
In April, 1861, after the breaking out of the civil war and the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment had been fired upon in Baltimore, Mr. Bemis enlisted in the second battalion of liglit infantry, Boston Tigers, of Boston, expecting to go to Baltimore, but was ordered instead to Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, where he was the first guard, and remained about a month, after which he was on escort duty in the city for six months, when George Francis Train. who was in London intro- ducing street railways, sent for him. On
525
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
his arrival in that city he took charge of Train's business affairs, and also became gen- eral manager of the only American news- paper in Europe, The London American, at the solicitation of George Peabody, Charlotte Cushman and other prominent Americans who had raised a fund for the support of the paper. During the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, this paper had an extensive circula- tion in London, Paris and other European cities, and did effective service in the Union cause, while at the same time a rebel paper, the Index, was established within a couple of doors, advocating the cause of secession.
In 1863, Mr. Bemis returned to New York and established himself in the broker- age business in Wall street. In 1864 he again joined Train and helped to organize the Credit Mobilier for the purpose of build- ing the Union Pacific Railway, and in 1865 assisted in organizing the Credit Foncier of America under charter from the Territory of Nebraska, of which Train was president, and Bemis secretary, the purpose being to build up towns and cities along the line of the Pacific Road. In 1868 Mr. Bemis came to Omaha, which has since been his place of residence, although during the time when Mr. Train was so extensively engaged in lecturing throughout the country he was his constant companion and business manager. In 1870 he accompanied Mr. Train on that gentleman's second tour around the world, visiting Japan, China and India, returning by way of the Red Sea and Suez Canal, to Marseilles in October, where Train organized a following of 80,000 of the Commune, the International and Ligue du Midi, while Paris was being besieged by the P'russians, and for a short time held possession of the city by a coup d'etat.
After Mr. Train retired from public life, Mr. Bemis devoted himself, until 1887, to the real estate and loan business in Omaha, where he has large interests.
The Bemis Park Company was organized and incorporated October 4, 1889. The officers elected were George P'. Bemis, pres- ident; E. W. Nash, vice-president; J. H. Dumont, secretary and treasurer. The directors were the three officers named; also Dr. S. D. Mercer and E. L. Bierbower. This company was formed for the purpose of platting a sixty-acre tract ; forty-eight
acres and a half, known as College Place, belonging to Mr. Bemis, and eleven acres and a half being a part of Mercer Park, and belonging to Dr. Mercer.
The Bemis Park proper was dedicated to public use on the day of the recording of the plat of the sixty acres, October 23, 1889. It was laid out by Alfred R. Edgerton, landseape architect, of Syracuse, New York. It contains six acres and forty-four hund- redthis. Since then the city has purchased three acres additional, on the south side, giving it nearly a thousand feet south frontage on Cuming Street.
Mr. Bemis was nominated October 17, 1891, by the Republicans of Omaha for the office of mayor,-IIenry Osthoff being selected the same day as the nom- inee of the Democrats. The nomina- tion of Mr. Bemis was wholly unsolicited by him. Ilis election on November 3, following, was by the largest majority ever given to any candidate for that office, being 4,484 votes over his oppo- nent. "Mr. Bemis," said the Bee of the next day, "has reason to feel proud of this manifestation of popular confidence in his integrity, ability and fidelity to the ma- terial interests of this city. At no time in her history has Omaha been as much in need of a vigilant, energetic and devoted exeentive head of her municipal govern- ment. Mr. Bemis is not a politician. He is the creature of no cabal or political com- bine. Ile has not sought the office, but the office has sought him. Ilis highest ambi- tion will be to serve Omaha and merit the esteem and confidence of her best citizens."
The inaugural address of Mayor Bemis gave abundant evidence of the determina- tion on his part, to use every legal means, to the extent of his power, in guarding honestly and economically the best interests of the city. "In accordance with the provisions of the charter," said he, "I will, from time to time, avail myself of the right conferred, to communicate to you sueh information and recommend such measures as may tend to the improvement of the finances, police, health, security, ornament, comfort, and general prosperity of the city. I shall endeavor also, as required by the charter, to be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances of the city and to cause all subordinate officers to be dealt with promptly for any neglect or violation of duty. I am
526
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
fully determined, to the limit of my power, that every department of the city shall be con- ducted honestly and economically, and with a view solely to the best interests of the pub- lic." That these pledges were carried out by the mayor cannot be gainsaid.
It has fallen to the lot of Mayor Bemis to welcome, since he became chief executive of Omaha, many gatherings from abroad, to the hospitalities of the city. In these public addresses he has evinced great versatility, a profound knowledge of men, and an unusual degree of that peculiar tact necessary in successful off-hand speeches. To the quad- rennial general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his greeting was pecu- liarly happy. Among many other of his good words on that occasion were these:
"We fully realize and appreciate the grand life-work which you have chosen in elevat- ing mankind morally, mentally and spirit- ually; and we feel confident that your so- journ with us will ever be remembered as influencing us for good during the remain- der of our lives. What a noble ambition for our young men to emulate, to follow in the footsteps of representatives of such a great organization.
"What a field there is for action," added the mayor, "in the way of home missionary work in the slums and amongst the poor and lowly in our cities. I sometimes wonder if our churches are not tending too much in the direction of social clubs; whether too much money is not going into great church edifices and not enough into the moral, men- tal and social elevation of the poor, forsaken mortals that seem to be doomed to the 'wal- lows' of our cities. It seems to me that we need more 'Peoples' Churches,' more 'Boys' and Girls' Industrial Homes,' more 'Homes of Shelter' more 'Open Doors,' more out-door preaching and teaching, more hospital, jail and poor-house visitations, and better sanitary work in the squalid and crim- inal districts. Our missionaries should be- come neighbors to the poor and destitute, and not merely visitors. The poor are in- evitably better for close association with whole-souled men and women working for them in methods that do not permit a sus- picion of sham."
The welcome of the mayor to the Na- tional Convention of the People's Party, July 1, 1892, was of a character well calcu- lated to bring out his best thoughts upon
matters appertaining to proper legislation- to a sound currency-and to correct rela- tions as between capital on the one side and labor on the other. It was received as a more than ordinary non-partisan effort. Its patriotism was unmistakable : " Some may differ with you," said he, "as to how the country should be governed ; but we will not forget that we are all brothers, all citi- zens of this great nation. We are all Americans-not enemies, but friends-all anxious, in our way, to labor for the welfare or our glorious Union, which has no equal, and which, we sincerely hope and pray, will continue free and prosperous forever."
The address of Mayor Bemis to the representatives of organized labor, Septem- ber 5, 1892 (" Labor Day") was especially characteristic of one who has always been known as the friend of the working man, and met with the hearty approval of the thousands of the honest sons of toil who had assembled to do honor to the day. Among other things, the speaker said: " The great body of the American people are right. In heart and in purpose, they are with the cause of labor. All that is lacking is the full appreciation and proper recognition of the reasonable demands of labor. How is this to be brought about ? By violence? No. By anarchy? No. By riot and turbulence and bloodshed? No. It is to be brought about only in the manner we witness to-day-by peaceable agitation, and by orderly proceedings. It is by these means the working men of this country propose to demonstrate the justness of their cause, and to prove not only that 'the laborer is worthy of his hire,' but is entitled to such compensation for his labor, and to such rea- sonable hours of toil, as will enable him to support a family comfortably and decently and live like a man among men, with some of the comforts and pleasures of life."
There was much to be commended in his welcome to the Grand Lodge I. O. O. F., October 19, 1892; also, in his greeting, on behalf of the City of Omaha, to the mem- bers of the Head Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America; in his address to.the Illustrious Nobles of the Imperial Council of the Mystic Shrine; to the Nebraska State Underwriters' Association at its sec- ond annual banquet; and to the many other of the numerous addresses he has been called upon to make, in his official capacity.
527
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JAMES E. BOYD was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, September 9, 1834, and came to Belmont County, Ohio, with his parents in June, 1844. In 1847 he went with his father to Zanesville, in the same state, where he lived until 1856. There he worked three years in a provision store when he began carpenter-work. On the 19th day of August, of the year last mentioned, he reached Omaha, with his brother, John M. Boyd. At first, the two carried on the carpenter and joiner business. James was elected county clerk of Douglas County in 1857, but subsequently resigned the office. On the 22d of August, 1858, James was married in the Pacific House, Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Anna H. Henry, a native of Hamil- ton, Madison County, New York. She had a few months previous arrived in Omaha. Afterwards, the two went to Wood River, Buffalo County, (near the present town of Gibbon), Nebraska, the husband opening a stock farm. They remained there nine years. Mr. Boyd also engaged in merchandizing at Kearney City, two miles west of Fort Kear- ney, and in 1866, for the first time, con- tracted with the Union Pacific Railroad Company to grade a portion of their road, grading in four years over three hundred miles. Previous to this and while living at Wood River, he engaged in freighting across the plains. This was in the summer of 1865.
While residing in Buffalo County, Mr. Boyd was elected to the legislature-the first one that assembled after Nebraska became a State. It convened July 4, 1866.
After the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad (in working upon which, Mr. Boyd laid the foundation of his fortune) he moved back to Omaha. This was in February, 1868. He soon after purchased a controlling interest in the Omaha Gas Works and in 1868 and 1869 was manager of the plant. In the winter of 1869-70, he organized the Omaha & Northwestern Railroad Company, and was elected its first president. He built the road from Omaha to Blair. He put into the undertaking one-sixth of the money required to complete it to Tekamah. This road has since become an important part of the Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha line.
In 1870, he helped to organize the Central National Bank of Omaha, and he was also president, for some time, of the Omaha Sav- ings Bank.
In 1871. he was elected to the constitu- tional convention which framed a constitu- tion that year to be submitted to the people of the state for adoption or rejection. It was rejected. While a member of this con- vention, the following was published of Mr. Boyd:
"J. E. Boyd, the young railroad king of Nebraska, has one of the most perfect phys- ical organizations of the convention. A well balanced brain, supported by a strong, vigorous, and active physical constitution, gives him the peculiar elements essential to success. All the qualities of his mind are centered in financial issues. He is a good liver and enjoys a square meal. Given to a lymphatic temperament, he takes the world easy and meets the business of the future with mathematical calculations. Ile is neither miserly or lavish with his means, but must see first a necessity and then he will supply it. He would make a good law- yer, a better judge, but could become eminent only as a financier. He did faithful service as a member of the constitutional convention."
Mr. Boyd was also a member of the con- stitutional convention of 1875, and was chairman of the committee on railroads - not only in this convention, but in that of 1871.
In 1872, Mr. Boyd commenced pork pack- ing in Omaha. The next year his buildings were considerably enlarged and the business increased to 13,450 head. The succeeding year the grasshopper ravages were such as to cause much of the live stock of Nebraska to be sold outside the state, and the number of fat hogs was much lessened. In conse- quence the packing for 1874-5 amounted to only 11,420. For 1875-6, Mr. Boyd still further enlarged his plant, and packed 15,04.2 hogs. The year 1876 was a favorable one for Nebraska farmers, who secured a large crop of corn and the packing season, which opened November 1st, was almost double that of the preceding year. In anticipation of this, Mr. Boyd erected extensive additions to his packing house, which then had a capacity for handling 40,000 head. The works represented an outlay of $33,000 and were equal in every particular to any similar establishment, at that date, in the west. In 1877. there were packed 40,000 hogs; in 1878-9, 60,000. The destruction of his establishment by fire January 18, 1880, was
528
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMANIA.
followed by a reconstruction of his premises on a larger scale and at a cost of $50,000. In 1886, he killed 141,000 hogs. He con- tinued the business until the summer of 1887, when he sold his establishment.
In 1880, Mr. Boyd was one of the council- men of Omaha, and on the 6th of April of the next year was chosen mayor of the city, receiving a majority of 1,939 votes in a total of 4,300. He served the full term of two years. lle was at that date extensively interested in stock raising in Wyoming, near Fort Fetterman. The next year he was president of the Omaha Board of Trade. He was again elected mayor in 1885 by a large majority, proving himself, while in office, an able and efficient executive officer.
In 1881, during his first administration as mayor, the high-license law went into effect in Omaha and was enforced, although with much difficulty. He visited Detroit, during the same term of office, and made a careful investigation of its law with respect to paving and other public improvements; and it was at his suggestion that the city charter was amended so as to provide that paved intersections of streets and alleys should be paid for by the city, and the property holders should have five years in which to pay for the remainder. The present system of paving, curbing, guttering, and sewerage was adopted while he was mayor.
In politics, Mr. Boyd is a democrat. In the senatorial campaign of 1883, he received the vote of the democrats in the legislature for United States Senator, when Mr. Man- derson was elected by the republican ma- jority.
In the presidential campaign of 1884, he was a delegate to the convention which nominated Grover Cleveland, for whom he cast his vote. He was selected a member of the national democratic committee, and was a delegate to the national democratic convention of 1888. He was at this period head of the Chicago commission firm of James E. Boyd & Brother, and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, also a member of the New York Stock Exchange.
As long ago as November 1880, Mr. Boyd laid the foundation of "Boyd's Opera House," on the northeast corner of Farnam and 15th Streets; and he had the structure completed and opened for business October 24, 1881; It had a seating capacity, all told, of 1,700. It was an expensive building for
that time, and is still used as a theater, but is owned by other parties.
In 1890, Mr. Boyd began the erection of his new opera house on the southeast corner of Harney and Seventeenth Streets, an im- posing structure five stories in height and having a seating capacity of two thousand. It was opened Thursday evening, September 3, 1891. The entire cost of the building was nearly $250,000.
In 1890, Mr. Boyd was nominated by tlie Democratic State Convention as candidate for governor, and was elected; on the 6th of February he sent his message to the legis- lature. It was an effort of more than ordinary importance:
"Assembled here," said the governor in the opening paragraph, "by the direction of the people of this great and growing commonwealth of Nebraska, to promote their interests and render obedience to their expressed will, I hope that in all things concerning the dignity of citizenship, and the public weal we may go hand in hand toward the faithful fulfillment of our accep- ted trust, guided by our best wisdom, ambitious in the performance of our labors, and at all times true to the honor and the escutcheon of the State. We meet here, instructed by the public voice, you in your sphere and I in mine, different in action, yet the same in end. As public servants, with express commands, we shall be held to strict account by those who sent us here. Subter- fuges and strategies and weak expedients will all be swept away when we are called upon to explain the record made within these walls. Our principles abandoned and our pledges unperformed, the people dis- regarded and the State betrayed, means to- morrow as it meant yesterday, swift and complete political death. In all that pertains to blooming fields and prosperous homes; in all that brings the people of the prairies in close alliance with the people of the towns; in the promotion of their welfare; in the protection of their rights; the redress of their wrongs; in lifting their burdens and the speedy granting of their appeals; and finally in strict and even-handed justice to all, I herewith extend you my hearty ap- proval in advance."
The governor then briefly presented for the consideration of the legislature a few sug- gestions of what appeared to him to be essential to the welfare and contentment of
529
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the people of the State. (1) Ile urged strict economy in public affairs; (2) he thought it a duty to lessen, if possible, the hardships of excessive taxation, wherever it existed; (3) he recommended an ample law concern- ing usury; (4) the public schools he spoke of as a source of great utility; (5) a reform in the system of voting was recommended; (6) prohibition he declared was dead, and should be allowed to rest in peace; (7) he thought the supreme judiciary should be re- lieved, and that a new constitution for the State was needed; (8) he entered pretty fully upon the question as to what legisla- tion was needed concerning railroads; (9) the World's Columbian Exposition he spoke highly of, and recommended a reasonable appropriation by the State for an exhibition therein of its natural wealth and its resources, its material prosperity and the advanced in- dustries of its people ought, he thought, to be exhibited to the world at large; (10) he spoke of the drouth of the preceding sum- mer, and of the calling out of the national guards in the recent troubles with the In- dians on the northern border of the State; (11) he recommended the election of presi- dential electors by districts; and (12) he asked for a close communion between the legislative and executive branches of tlie State government.
The governor concluded his message in these happy words: " Let us be distinguished in our labors for the good of our fellows and the glory of the State by that exalted ambi- tion which rises above party affiliations and party strife; and when at last we part and go out from the scenes of our public service let us bear away with us that high consider- ation and respect, each for the other, that endearing remembrance of our publie and social relations, and that sterling confidence in the sincerity and honor of us all, without which official life loses its most pleasing charm."
On the 6th of May following he was ousted from his office by a decision of the supreme court of Nebraska, Thayer, the previous governor, being given the place by that tri- bunal. However, on the 8th of February, 1892, lie was reinstated as governor, under , the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States, and served the remainder of the term for which he had been elected. As chief executive of Nebraska, Governor
Boyd performed his duties with credit, re- flecting honor upon himself and the State.
CLINTON BRIGGS .- One of the pio- neers of Nebraska, who has passed to that " undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," but whose memory is cherished by thousands, was Clinton Briggs, for many years one of the leading citizens of Omaha.
Mr. Briggs was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan, on the ninth of Septem- ber, 1828. He studied law with Lathrop & Duffield, at Detroit, having, previous to 1850, received an academic education. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of his native state in 1853, soon after which he entered the law office of William II. Seward, of Auburn, New York, and the next year, on examination, was admitted to practice in the supreme court of that State. The year following, he was married to Miss Emily Manley, of Skaneateles, New York, an accomplished and estimable lady.
Mr. Briggs, on going to the West, began the practice of his profession in Omaha, he having settled here as early as the nineteenth of November, 1855, which gave him, properly, the title of " pioneer." He was soon elected county judge for a term of two years, before the expiration of which he was chosen a mem- ber of the legislature of the territory. He subsequently assisted in framing the present code of civil procedure of the State. Con- tinuing in his law practice at Omaha, he formed a partnership with John I. Redick, and for ten years, and until the dissolution of the firm, they had a large and leading practice.
In 1860, Judge Briggs was elected mayor of the City of Omaha, on the republican ticket. His term in that office was distin- guished by the establishing of telegraphic communication between Omaha and New York, and between the city first named and San Francisco. He had the honor of send- ing the first congratulatory messages to those cities. Ile was afterwards a member of the constitutional convention, in 1875, of Nebraska, and assisted in framing the pres- ent State constitution. The prominent po- sition taken by the judge on the important questions which came before that body, added much to his reputation.
During the fifteen years following 1860,
34
530
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
Judge Briggs was engaged in an extensive practice, which frequently required him to prosecute cases in the supreme court of Ne- braska, and the United States courts. llis health becoming impaired, he abandoned the general practice, confining himself to a few important snits. In 1877, he was a candi- date for the United States Senate, his name having been brought forward by his friends and his candidacy urged by them in recog- nition of long, persistent and successful efforts to compel two leading railroads of Nebraska to pay taxes on their immense land grants; but he was unsuccessful in the senatorial race.
In 1878, Judge Briggs traveled exten- sively in Europe, with advantage to his health, and upon his return he continued his journeyings in California and other western States and in the Territories. He aided, during his residence in Nebraska, various public enterprises, both in Omaha and the State at large, among which was the con- struction of the Omaha and Southwestern Railroad. At the time of his death, which occurred on the sixteenth of December, 1882, he was still employed in a number of impor- tant law cases.
Mr. Briggs had, in a marked degree, that intuitive perception of right and justice, that nice discrimination, that power of dis- tinguishing between reported cases, that ability to eliminate the essential facts from the often confused narrations of clients, that readiness to discover the point really in- volved in a mass of testimony, which, when united, we are in the habit of denominating a legal mind. He was a logical reasoner, with excellent powers of analysis. Thus it happened that his counsel was eagerly sought after and implicitly followed by men of large means and representatives of import- ant interests.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.