USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 79
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He was not what is ordinarily termed an eloquent man, nor was he fond of addressing juries; but when he did so, his character as a fair, honest and impartial man was fre- quently quite as effective as the most im- passioned oratory would have been. He had a way of stating his opponent's case in what appeared to be the most disinterested manner, giving to him the benefit of all doubtful testimony and then demolishing the fabric he had erected, which was at once ingenious and successful.
But it was in courts of equity and before
appellate tribunals that his abilities were most manifest. The early reports of the State, and those of the United States Su- preme Court, when Nebraska was a Terri- tory, bear witness alike to his industry and success. For ten or fifteen years of his resi- dence in Omaha, the firm of which lie was a member had a practice more varied, if not more extensive, than any other in the State. By it, and by successful investments in real estate, he had amassed, at the time of his deatlı, a considerable fortune, which has now grown into a large and valnable patrimony.
His life was gentle, his manner quiet, his voice low, and his habits rather retiring than aggressive. Conspicuous among his characteristics was an evident unwillingness to wound the feelings of anyone, even his antagonists. With the younger members of the bar he was always a favorite, and for them he invariably had some kindly word of advice or congratulation. So it came to pass that the sudden and mysterious catas- trophe which terminated his life found him with hardly an enemy in the world. He left one child-a son, Clinton llenry Briggs -born February 9, 1867, who, with the mother, still survives.
WILLIAM JAMES BROATCH, the subject of this sketch, was born in Middle- ton, Connecticut, July 31, 1841, where he attended the public and high schools at intervals until the age of seventeen years. Losing his father at twelve, and being the eldest of a family of five children-four brothers and one sister-he was obliged to secure employment in order to support the family. From twelve to fourteen he lived upon a farm-rough and incongenial as the labor upon a New England farm was to him,yet the experience was invaluable in after life, and aided him greatly in the charge of the Yankton Indian Agency, a position afterwards held by hin,-the reser- vation then consisting of four thousand acres, where the Indians were taught to till the soil and acquire the habits of civilized people.
From fourteen to seventeen he was em- ployed, when not in school, in various manu- facturing establishments, where he learned to forge a piece of iron or run a lathe, as well as to manage the machinery in general use in a machine shop. During this period he attended school in winter, and at other
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times prosecuted a course of study and read- ing during evening hours. It was his ambition to take a collegiate course, but in this he was destined to disappointment. At seventeen he went to Hartford and there entered a store as a clerk, where he remained until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, which occurred just before he had attained his majority. During these years he still kept up his educational desires, and associating other clerks with him, formed a class for evening study.
Mr. Broatch was always a strong aboli- tionist and took a deep interest in every- thing relating to the question of slavery. He felt that, all other means failing, a war for the liberation of the slaves would be justifiable. From the time that the Star of the West was fired into, December, 1860, he saw that war was inevitable, and in order to accustom himself in some slight degree to the hardships incident to campaign life, he forsook his bed and slept upon the floor. When the first call for troops was made, he volunteered in Captain (afterward Senator) Hawley's company, but being a minor, was rejected. In September, 1861, having come of age, he enlisted in Company A, Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, at Hartford; and, with that regiment, he served in the Burn- side expedition on the coast of North Carolina, being present at the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, and at the siege of Fort Macon. IIe was also in the naval engagement at Roanoke Island, February 7, 1862, on board the gunboat Chasseur, which was used as a transport for a part of his regiment and by some mistake took part in the engagement. He was pro- moted to second lieutenant in March, 1862, and to first lieutenant in the following September.
After Mcclellan's failure on the penin- sula, Burnside's command was hurriedly sent to the James River, and there Lieuten- ant Broatch was detailed for recruiting service in his native State. A portion of the time he was stationed at Fort Trumbull, assisting in the care of recruits and in making frequent trips to the field with detachments, which were assigned to regi- ments. Fort Trumbull was the headquar- ters of the Third United States Artillery and the Fourteenth United States Infantry. Becoming acquainted with many regular officers, Lieutenant Broatch determined to
enter the regular army. IIe accordingly resigned his commission in October, 1863, and in November following enlisted in the Fourteenth United States Infantry. He went to the field at once and joined his regiment on the Rappahannock. Hle subse- quently took part in the Mine Run campaign which, though brief, was distinguished for hardship and the extremely cold weather, rather than military results. During the winter of 1863-64, he was called before a board of examination, composed of a detail of officers from Syke's division of regulars, and, passing, was recommanded to the secre- tary of war for a commission in the regular army. At this time he was first sergeant of Company F, Second Battalion of the Four- teenth Infantry. In February, 1864, the secretary of war convened a board of reg- ular officers at Washington, before which he appeared, and, passing a satisfactory exami- nation, he soon had the satisfaction of knowing that President Lincoln had sent his name to the senate for confirmation as a second lieutenant of infantry. He was appointed sergeant-major of the Third Battalion, Fourteeth Infantry, and served as such until the 14th of May, 1864, when notice of his confirmation had been received. He was in the Fifth Army Corps and present in all its battles and skirmishes, commenc- ing the fifth of the month last named, beginning with the Wilderness on that day and ending with the Chapel House in October following-including besides the two just mentioned, those of Spottsylvania, Tolopotomy, Petersburg and Weldon Rail- road. Ile was brevetted first lieutenant in the month last mentioned for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Chapel House and assigned to the Tenth Infantry, leaving the field late in the month, his regiment being reduced to sixty-five mus- kets. IIe acted as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Hayes, commanding a regular brigade at the battle of Weldon Railroad, and was assistant. adjutant general of the regular brigade under General Stone and Colonel Wintrop, his staff duty commencing with August and ending with October, 1864.
Lieutenant Broatch was ordered, after- wards, to Fort Porter, Buffalo, where, after a short stay, he was ordered upon recruiting service in New York City and Brooklyn. IIe remained in these cities until the spring
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of 1865, when he was ordered to a similar duty at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In the autumn following he was ordered to the general depot of Governor's Island, New York Harbor, and in December thereafter, with a company, joined his regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
In Mareh, 1866, Lieutenant Broatch was appointed an aide-de-camp on the staff of Brigadier General Philip St. George Cooke, and eame with him to Omaha, the headquar- ters of the Department of the Platte, which had just been created. On the 28th of July, following, he was commissioned a captain in the Fortieth regiment of infantry, joining it at Alexandria, Virginia.
Captain Broateli, in March, 1867, em- barked with his company on the steamer Flambeau, for Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Arriving off the entrance to Cape Fear River, they were stranded on a sand bar and wrecked, losing nearly all their personal effeets. He served in North Carolina dur- ing the reconstruction period. Ile subse- quently went to New Orleans with his regiment,-asking, finally, to go upon awaiting orders, which was granted, and lie went to Ohio. Afterwards he was detailed to take charge of the Yankton Sioux In- dians, and having served as Indian agent for a year, during 1869-70, he again went to Ohio on awaiting orders. Finally, he resigned his commission in the army, to take effect Deeember 31, 1870.
Captain Broateh settled in Omaha in Mareh, 1874, and engaged in the iron and heavy hardware trade, which he has ever sinee followed. Ile was a member of the Nebraska legislature in 1881, and took an aetive interest in the passage of the high license law. The bill, as introdueed, made the license five hundred dollars. Ile amended it in committee of the whole and made it one thousand dollars. He was a member of the Missouri River Commission, being ap- pointed by President Arthur at the time of its ereation; and he served upon it until his resignation in March, 1891. He has also been a member of the Omaha Board of Trade sinee its re-organization in 1877, and was a member of its board of directors in that year and in the one following, and was its president in 1879.
In May, 1887, Mr. Broateh was elected to the office of Mayor of Omaha. During his term, the high license law, in its en-
tirety, was, for the first time, enforeed in the city. IIe endeavored and fully suc- eeeded in administering affairs of his office in a conservative manner and in the interest of good government. There were many abuses which he made it his aim to correct -one at a time-and in such a way as to produce the least possible friction. IIe was the first mayor under the new charter. This charter brought with it enlarged pow- ers and increased responsibilities, and Mayor Broateh did not shrink from them, but pur- sued his official career within the law, being determined that his administration should be elean and in the interest of the property owners and tax payers.
As Mayor of Omaha, Mr. Broateh was frequently called upon to address assem- blages of people from abroad and some- times he was asked to speak to his fellow citizens. In all these efforts he acquitted himself with eredit. Some of his efforts deserve especial mention. In the dedication of the Jewish Synagogue, July 1, 1889, are a few words on religion, of which any of our most learned theologians might be proud:
" Every effort to establish religious wor- ship is consistent with the best interests of society and should be encouraged. Religion is a necessity, and every human being is happier with a well grounded faith. In our hours of adversity, when abandoned by former friends, we turn to our God and religion and there find a consolation which nothing else affords. The Indian has his religion, primitive though it be, and
** 'Sees God in clouds. or hears Him in the wind.'
"He, in his way, looks forward to the time when he must pay that debt to nature which none can escape, and hopes by his deeds on earth to obtain a happy place in the hunting grounds of the spirit land. He has no conception of a spiritual existence such as we believe in, yet lie believes in immortality and is happy in his religion. Go wherever you will, where you find the synagogue, the eathedral, or the church, you will find a people prosperous and happy, obedient to the laws, and advancing in all that contributes to the amenities of life and makes it worth having."
His speech on behalf of the city to the convention on Charities and Reform; his address to the A. O. U. W., when they ded- icated their new hall; his remarks at the
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opening of the Hebrew Charity Fair; his address on the opening of the Inter-state Bridge across the Missouri; and the words spoken by him upon the dedication of the Y. M. C. A. building, were all able efforts.
Mr. Broatch was unanimously nominated at the Republican State Convention, in 1892, as an elector-at-large on the Republican ticket, and was elected on the 8th of November fol- lowing. He has always been an ardent Repub- lican, and regrets that his vote will not avail in the choice of a president. He favors the principle of protection, and believes in that of reciprocity. Ile never has, however, be- lieved in a protection which will admit of the formation of great trusts, or allow manu- facturers to amass colossal fortunes.
Mr. Broatch was married January 21, 1869, at Canton, Ohio. to Julia F. Schneider. Two sons have been born of this union, one only now living-James Wallace Broatch- who is a graduate of Yale College, and is at present engaged with his father in the hard- ware business in Omaha.
AMELIA BURROUGHS .- The parents of the subject of this sketch, Peter Mile- stone and Nancy Parsons Milestone, are both natives of England, the first of Yorkshire, and the latter of Southampton. They came to America about forty-three years ago, the father settling in Medina and the mother in Cleveland, Ohio. They were married in July, 1857, and now reside in Omaha.
Amelia is the eldest of the family of five children, having been born in Wellington, Ohio, on the 22d of June, 1852. Her earliest education was obtained at home and at the district schools of her native place. The parents having moved to Cleveland in 1860, the daughter, thereafter, had the advantages of public and select schools, attending among others those of Humiston Institute and Woodland Avenue Seminary.
Miss Milestone was married in Cleveland October 8, 1873, to Edgar W. Burroughs of Greenwood, Michigan, where the two re- sided for two years. One child, a son-Will Bliss-was born there September 14, 1874, and is still living.
Mrs. Burroughs had, from an early age, a desire to study medicine, and this was grati- fied by her entering upon a course of read- ing, in 1877, with her aunt, Dr. Kate Par- sons, of Cleveland, having previously
studied at her home, and acting as assistant physician at the women's dispensary in connection with the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College. In the fall of the year last mentioned, Mrs. Burroughs entered this college as a regular student, graduating in 1881, acting as dispensary physician the second year of her course in that institution, and having under her care over a thousand patients.
After this, in 1881, Dr. Burroughs came to Council Bluffs (where her husband had located meanwhile) and opened an office in the practice of her chosen profession. In 1883, she located in Omaha, where she has since lived.
Dr. Burroughs is a member of the Neh- raska State Homeopathic Society, the North- western Academy of Homeopathy, and the American Institute of Homeopathy.
ROBERT HARPER CLARKSON was born at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 19, 1826. He was of an old and honored family. His grandfather, Rev. Joseplı Clark- son, D. D., was rector of St. James Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, until he reached a great age. The father of the subject of this sketch was, during his son's boyhood, a man of extensive business and was always held largely in public esteem. During the latter part of his life he lived in retirement. He died in Omaha. His wife was Priscilla Harper.
Robert's academic education was received at Pennsylvania College, in his native place, where he graduated in 1844. Shortly after- ward he became tutor at the College of St. .James, in Hagerstown, Maryland. While there he studied theology, and was ordained deacon, June 18, 1848. He was married May 8, 1849, in the place last named, to Meliora McPherson.
On the day of their wedding, before the sounds of festivity were over, the young couple took up their long and weary way to Chicago-he, while yet in deacon's orders, to be rector of St. James Church, in that city. For the seventeen years in which he held the position, "by his untiring efforts, his urbane manners, his loving interest, his wise admin- istration," he so managed the affairs of the parish that it became the leading one in the diocese. lle was ordained priest January 5, 1851. In 1857 he received his doctorate in divinity from his alma mater, and also from
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Racine College. The University of Nebraska, in 1872, conferred upon him the first of its degrees of doctor of laws.
In 1865, the subject of this sketch was elected missionary bishop of Nebraska and Dakota by the general convention of the church. On the 15th of November, of that year, in his own church edifice, in Chicago, he was consecrated to that office. He first visited Omaha the next month, and shortly after became a resident of this city. In 1868, Nebraska was erected into a diocese and he was unanimously elected its first bishop. He retained jurisdiction in Dakota for some years, when the western part of that territory was detached and made a sep- arate district with a bishop of its own. In the fall of 1883, at his own request, he was relieved of his missionary jurisdiction, the work having outgrown his strength; and he then looked forward to years of effort to be given wholly to Nebraska. But the future was not unveiled before him; his labors were nearing their end. He died in Omaha on the 10th of March, 1884, and was buried on the 13th in the cathedral yard, in a spot which he had selected, south of the south transept of the building.
His widow survives him, and she is still a resident of Omaha. Their children are Mrs. Mary McPherson Millspaugh and Nellie Clarkson Davis.
The record of Robert Harper Clarkson, as rector and bishop in the Episcopal Church, is one of more than ordinary interest. L'pon his arrival in Chicago, the zeal and enthusi- asm of his nature, at once began to stimulate the efforts of his parishioners, and the parish soon felt the influence of his energy and de- votion. Additional accommodations were shortly needed for the increasing congrega- tion-the members of which he gathered from all sorts and conditions of men. The little edifice at Cass and Illinois Streets soon proved quite inadequate for the number of people that frequented the services, and a new and larger building was demanded. The lot on which the present church stands was purchased, and the corner stone of the new structure laid in the spring of 1856. The edifice was a fine one, but was destroyed in the great fire; but the debt of 830,000 upon the premises, owing to the energy and tact of Dr. Clarkson, had previously been can- celled. The history of the parish under his
rectorship of seventeen years, was one of great unity and increasing prosperity.
When Dr. Clarkson was made missionary bishop, Nebraska was not the pleasant dio- cese it now is. It had no delightful resi- dences like Omaha with its fine buildings and its cultivated society. There was no stately cathedral, no lovely bishop's house, no Brownell Hall with its crowding scholars. The bishop's trials and perils, by land and water, by flood and tempest, by heat and cold, during the early years of his episco- pate, would, if truthfully and minutely related, shock the nerves of sensitive per- sons. He lived to see the State of his adop- tion rise to power, in population and in wealth. He lived to see the few struggling missions, which, far scattered, were all lie could call his own when first he came, ex- pand into flourishing diocese with its fine churches, its schools, its colleges and its hos- pitals.
As a man, as a citizen. as a priest, as a bishop, Robert Harper Clarkson played well his part. He had a ready wit; was fertile in resources and quick in perception. Few men have lived who surpassed him in noble- ness and generosity. He could not resist the appeal of distress. His purse, his home, his pen. his influence, were always at the command of his friends. "Anger passed out of his heart and resentments faded from his memory as the cloud fades from the lim- pid waters."
In the school, which Bishop Clarkson pro- vided for the daughters of Omaha and the West; in the beautiful charity for little children which he planted and built up in this city; and in the catheral here, which he toiled so incessantly to complete; in these and in many more achievements, he has erected unto himself a monument that will tell, to future ages, in unmistakable lan- guage, of his purity, of his goodness, and of the nobility of his Christian charity.
VICTOR H. COFFMAN, M. D .- From the genealogical leaflet of the Coffman family, compiled by Isaac Fenton King, a member of the family, we learn that the an- cestors of Victor H. Coffman, the subject of this sketch, were originally from Woodstock, Virginia. William Coffman, the father of him of whom we write, was born at Zanes- ville, Ohio, June 8, 1807, and died at Indi-
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anola, Jowa, April 8, 1888. On December 10, 1835, he married Mary Gates, who died at Indianola, Iowa, February 2, 1868. Vic- tor H. Coffman was born September 10, 1839, near Zanesville, Ohio, where he spent his early childhood. When in his fourteenth year his parents moved to Indianola, Iowa. Soon afterwards he entered the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant, continuing his course till the senior year. He then be- gan the study of medicine with Dr. C. W. Davis, under whose instruction he advanced rapidly during the period of study. Ile was, of course, called upon many times to witness and assist in various surgical operations, at which times he became almost disheartened with the profession, the sight of mangled limbs being almost too much for his sensitive nature and too sympathetic heart; but the encouragement of his sister and the determination of Dr. Davis, who recognized marked ability in his young stu- dent, he is indebted for his future surgical career. In 1859 the young surgeon entered the Chicago Medical College, attending the regular lectures during that year and the one following. When the war began, Gen- eral George W. Clark, a warm personal friend, who was recruiting a regiment for the field, advised him to go before the army medical board for examination, promising, if he passed the required examination, to have him commissioned as a medical officer in his regiment. He reported immediately at Keo- kuk, Iowa. After going through the exam- ination, Dr. Hughes, chairman of the board, stated he would take great pleasure in re- commending the young man to Governor Kirkwood for a commission, and, although only nineteen years of age, he was com- missioned assistant surgeon, September 16, 1862. General Clarke, with his officers, re- quested that he be assigned to the Thirty- fourth Iowa infantry, and ordered to report at once at Camp Lauman, at Burlington, Iowa, where his regiment rendezvoused. On his arrival, he relieved Dr. Horace Ran- son, who was in charge. The acquaintance there begun with Dr. Ranson, has continued with warm friendship to the present. Dr. Coffman accompanied his regiment to IIelena, Arkansas, there joining the fleet which transported the army to attack Vicksburg. From Vicksburg (still on duty with the regiment) he went to Arkansas Post, parti- cipating in the battle and capture of that
place, and accompanied his regiment, which escorted the prisoners captured there through to Chicago. The medical experience of that voyage is indescribable. Small-pox broke out among the prisoners; the cold weather was fatal to many; the dead were buried at every landing; and at Arsenal Island, near St. Louis, all the sick were put in a small- pox hospital. Between Alton and Chicago the faithful hospital steward was taken with the disease and died at Camp Douglas. Re- turning to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Dr. Coffman reported the entire regiment dis- abled and ordered them into the hospital and convalescent camp. When the regiment was recruited, it returned to engage in the siege of Vicksburg. The sickness endured by the command was most appalling. and the death rate so great that it came near decimating the entire army.
Though Surgeon Coffman made many am- putations to save life, in order to transport the wounded to the hospitals, it would have been unnecessary, in many cases, had these patients been where their shattered limbs could have been cared for.
When ordered to the first charge at Wal- nut Hill, an old friend, Lieutenant Fitzer, of the Fourth Iowa, received a slight wound in the head, so trifling in appearance that he thought it looked cowardly to leave the field. Dr. Coffman insisted he should go at once to the hospital steamer, and maintain perfect quiet; if not, he would be in great danger, as he believed the wound sufficient to rupture the vessels of the brain. True to his predictions, the lieutenant died of that wonnd, and his bravery was confirmed.
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