USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 89
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In 1857 Mr. Poppleton was a member of the state legislature which divided, a portion of the members setting up a pretended leg- islature at Florence. Mr. Poppleton re- mained at Omaha with the division recog- nized by the governor and was elected speaker and served in that capacity during the balance of the session.
In 1858 Mr. Poppleton was mayor of the City of Omaha, being the second person to hold that office. In the following spring after exposure in a severe storm, he suffered an attack of facial paralysis which was fol-
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lowed by a protracted and dangerous illness. Upon his recovery the use of one of his limbs was greatly impaired, and he never re- covered its strength. He was absent from the life of the city for about eighteen months and returned to it with a vigor greatly reduced. Gradually he recovered his position at the bar, and enjoyed for many years a large measure of health and strength. He was, however, always obliged to exercise the greatest care of himself, and his habits largely upon that account have been very abstemious. During the time his strength was impaired he cultivated his love of literature and engaged in the study of the best political and philosophical works. When, in 1867, the state was admitted into the Union, he received the entire vote of the Democrats in the legislature for United States Senator; and but for methods on the part of the adverse party, which his friends have never been able to reconcile with fair- ness and justice, he would have been elected. In the following year he was the Democratic candidate for congress, but was defeated. He has never since taken any part in politics as a candidate for office.
Mr. Poppleton inherited from his father an - uncompromising faith in the principles of the Democratic party. This faith strength- ened with his strength and became a part of himself. During the war all of his sym- pathies, hopes and convictions were on the side of the Union, and he believed that no measure was beyond the competency of those charged with the administration which conduced to the preservation of the country. He held that the principles in which he was reared and with which he was thoroughly imbued, ealled every citizen to the support and maintenance of that Union which Andrew Jackson in another exigency had declared "must be preserved." The con- flict once over he believed in burying all animosity. Soon after the war he obtained from an ex-Union soldier possession of a military land warrant issued to Jefferson Davis for services in the Mexican war. He returned the same to Davis at a time when the North, generally, was disposed to give the fallen chieftain very different treatment. receiving in return a letter of profound gratitude, now in his possession signed by all the members of the Davis family includ- ing the infant children whose fingers were guided to make their signatures.
It has been one of the great doctrines of Mr. Poppleton's faith that it is not the province of government to nurse by sub- sidies or other like aids the interests of the individual; that it is far better for every citizen to rely upon his own efforts; and as an indiscriminate charity leads its objects to depend thereon rather than upon their own industry and thrift, that the government in dispensing favors in aid of its citizens, only helped in the end to bring them into a de- pendent and impoverished condition. This was the fundamental principle of his political faith, and he applied it to all questions of public policy, however they arose. During this period of his life, extending from 1862 to 1878, he was devoted with all his heart, and soul, and strength, to his profession. Ile loved it for its own sake, and for the good it rendered to society. He held be- fore his eye a high ideal of the lawyer, and yielded to no man in his devotion to the Law. The period which has been indicated was probably the best part of his professional life. In December, 1863, he was retained by the Union Pacific Railway Company, and continued in its service until 1888. Most of his time after 1869 was given to the com- pany, in whose official list he bore the title of general attorney, having in his charge all its western business; that is to say in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Colo- rado, Nevada and Oregon, and the territo- ries of Wyoming, Montana. Utah and Idaho. He conducted its important controversies in the courts personally, giving to them his best strength. After 1878, his duties be- came so arduous that he was obliged largely to withdraw from the courts and confine himself to the general direction of the legal business of the company.
Ile argued many important cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, and arrested the attention and held the highest esteem of the judges of that tribunal. IIis reputation was advanced to a high point not only in the West, but through the country. One of the best efforts of his was the writing of " The defence of Oakes Ames against the charge of selling to members of Congress shares of the capital stock of the Credit Mo- bilier of America with intent to bribe said members," which was read in the house of representatives by the clerk. It produced a strong impression and disposed the mem- bers to look upon the offenses charged
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against Mr. Ames in a new light. The ex- igency seemed, however, to call for a victim, and the result was the censure of the accused. This, however, was a favorable modification of the report of the investigating committee which recommended expulsion.
The writer of these lines has recently read that paper and has been greatly impressed by the clearness of the statement, tlie cogency of the reasoning and the persuasive- ness of the appeal. Not long after its de- livery, he was told by Mr. Sidney Bartlett, the leader of the bar of this country, that he considered it one of the best pieces of mod- ern advocacy.
Mr. Poppleton's official connection with the Union Pacific Railway Company and his good standing and influence with the mag- nates in the East who controlled the destiny of that corporation, made it possible for hím to continue to render the most important service to the city, of which, in 1854, he was one of thé founders. By 1873, the fixing of the Union Pacific Company's terminal plant, offices and equipment at Omaha was finally decided upon and settled. In regard to Mr. Poppleton's share in this result, the most beneficial to Omaha of any event in its his- tory, the following words from the Omaha Herald of that time speak :
" While we rejoice it is but proper that a few words should be said in behalf of a citi- zen to whom this people owe much for his intelligent, steady and well directed efforts to bring about results over which every man in Omaha is rejoicing.
" Andrew J. Poppleton is the one man who more than any other has piloted the people through these railroad complications to their present final settlement and secu- rity. We say this as a matter of sheer jus- tice to Mr. Poppleton, without going into details to show how richly he deserves it."
Mr. Poppleton has from time to time been called upon to deliver addresses upon many interesting occasions. Among them may be mentioned a maiden address delivered before the Agricultural Society of Oakland County, Michigan, at the age of twenty-two; a lec- ture on Edmund Burke; an address before the general convention of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, at Indianapolis, September 5, 1878, on the "Unsolved Problem," having reference to the unequal distribution of property; an address on "Character," de- livered before the Nebraska State Univer-
sity at commencement, June 27, 1877; an address before the Nebraska State Bar Asso- eiation on "The Lawyer in Politics," and addresses on the occasion of breaking ground in Omaha for the construction of the Union Pacific Railway; the presentation of colors to the contingent supplied by Omaha to the Army of the Union; the laying of the cor- ner stone of the present Douglas County Court House; the memorial meeting of citi- zens after the death of the Right Rev. Robert II. Clarkson, Episcopal Bishop of Nebraska; besides a large number of other addresses and speeches delivered on occas- sions of public or social interest. Many old residents will remember his appeal at a mass meeting of citizens for aid for those ren- dered destitute and homeless by the great Chicago fire. He has a full vocabulary, a glowing style, and elevated sentiments, as a perusal of these addresses will attest.
Mr. Poppleton retained his connection with the Union Pacific Railway Company until February, 1888, when he was obliged to resign on account of failing health, carrying with him from the officers and directors warm and recorded expressions of their confidence, esteem and appreciation of his long and faithful services.
During the spring following his resigna- tion he sought recreation in travel, visiting the City of Mexico, where he was accorded the pleasureable and unexpected attention of a private and personal audience by the judges of the supreme court of that republic. Returning to Omaha, he again took up the practice of law, intending to engage only in the more important cases.
In 1890, at the earnest solicitation of Mayor R. C. Cushing. he accepted the office of city attorney of Omaha, serving therein for two years. In advising the eity authorities Mr. Poppleton gave free access to all who de- sired his counsel, and applied to all questions democratic principles of economy and striet observance of law. During the greater part of his term he was withont an official assist- ant, but succeeded in bringing to a final dis- position in the courts 196 cases brought against the city, besides performing all the advisory duties of the office.
In 1891 and 1892 Mr. Poppleton was en- gaged as one of the leading counsel in be- half of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Companies in litigation before the United
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States courts with the Union Pacific Rail- way Company, the result of which was to break down the Union Pacific bridge bar- rier and secure to the companies named the right to use the bridge and tracks of the Union Pacific at Omaha on reasonable terms for the purpose of bringing in and through the city their freight and passenger traffic.
On June 12, 1878, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Nebraska.
Ile was one of the organizers and the first president of the Board of Trade and of the present Omaha Bar Association. Ile was an organizer and president of the Law Library Association, and also one of the organizers and long a director of the Omaha Public Library.
In 1879 Mr. Poppleton, in connection with Mr. J. L. Webster, made an earnest effort to secure the release, on a writ of habeas cor- pus, of Standing Bear, a Ponca chief, and his tribe, who had been unlawfully dispos- sessed by the government of their homes in Nebraska, and were being transferred to Indian Territory, under military custody. This case was exhaustively argued and is a cause celebre, in the history of our Indian affairs. The action of Mr. Poppleton and his associate, won the warm commendation of Ilelen Hunt Jackson, the author of Romona, and other humanitarians, interested in the Indian question, and secured to them the firm friendship of all Indians acquainted with the circumstances. This was the first instance in the judicial history of the United States in which the writ of habeas corpus was invoked and obtained on behalf of a tribal Indian.
In 1890 Mr. Poppleton was elected a trus- tee of Union College, Schenectady, New York.
In 1891, in his dual capacity of director of the Omaha Public Library and city at- torney, he aided in securing the acceptance by the city of the Byron Reed bequest for publie library purposes, and the voting of bonds to carry out its provisions.
Mr. Poppleton has served in many citi- zens' associations and committees. He has always been especially interested in ques- tions involving the Omaha city charter, and the status and future of Omaha as a railway center and manufacturing and distributing point. A firm believer in the future of Omaha, his surplus earnings have been in-
vested almost without exception in Omaha and Douglas County real estate, resulting in the accumulation of a large fortune.
For years he lias been a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Omaha.
About the first of January, 1892, his eye- sight began to fail and in a few months was completely lost. This misfortune was accom- panied during the summer by general illness.
Ile has since completely recovered bis general health and engages in affairs as far as is possible for one suffering his affliction.
Mr. Poppleton possesses literary tastes and derives, at present, great consolation from their indulgence. Ile is the owner of a large and valuable private library, especially rich in historical works.
He has never been a member of any church. Ile has, however, continually con- tributed to the support of church organiza- tions and has always possessed warm friends among clergymen.
ARTHUR S. POTTER .- The family of Arthur S. Potter is descended from Robert Potter, of Warwick, Rhode Island, who came from England in the year 1634. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born in 1787, in the State before mentioned, removing to Herkimer County, New York, and subsequently to Jefferson County, same State, where his son, Samuel Treat Potter, father of Arthur S., was born May 17, 1823.
Arthur S. was born in Le Ray, in the same county as his father, February 19, 1853. He has one brother and two sisters, all of whom, together with his parents, are now residents of Omaha.
His early education was at the district schools in his native town. He took his acadamie course at the Hungerford Colleg- iate Institute, Adams, New York, where he graduated in 1872. Ile then took a course in civil engineering in the Polytechnic In- stitute, at Troy, New York, being a member of the class of 1876. After the completion of his studies there, he removed to Michigan with his parents, spending two years in that State in the manufacturing business. He then was offered a position under the United States government, at Nebraska City, Ne- braska, which he accepted in September, 1878.
On July 14, 1879, Mr. Potter was married to Miss Ella Bently, of Weedsport, Caynga
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County, New York. In October, 1879, the appropriation for the improvement of the Missouri River at Nebraska City having been exhausted, he was offered a position in the engineering department of the Burling- ton & Missouri River Railroad, which he accepted, and which he occupied until August, 1880. In that month, he resigned to accept a position of engineer in charge of the improvement under the United States government again at Nebraska City. This position he filled very ereditably until De- cember, 1883, when he resigned his position and came to Omaha. At this date he had aecumulated by systematic saving a small amount of money, and in Mareh, 1884, opened an office to do a general real estate business in partnership with Emory A. Cobb, under the firm name of Potter & Cobb. Although at that time not having a single acquaintance in the city and not being familiar with the business he had under- taken, he went systematically at work to accumulate the necessary knowledge to become first in his line. For three years, he worked incessantly in handling properties for other people, and was successful in that time in personally accumulating consider- able means.
In January, 1891, Mr. Potter organized the company known as the Inter-State Bridge & Street Railway Company with a capital stoek of $2,500,000, and in one week subscribed one-half of the stock. lle at once caused a bill to be presented to congress In 1886, a party of gentlemen, among whom were A. E. Touzalin, Chas. E. Perkins, Frederick L. Ames, G. W. Holdrege, Henry W. Yates, Thomas L. Kimball and others, collected quite a large quantity of land on the Missouri river bottoms northeast of the city, their design being to use the lands so collected for the purpose of trackage and yards, to be used by railroad companies jointly. They found upon examination, their titles to be in an unsatisfactory con- dition; but they had a title more or less good to about a thousand acres. On June 1, 1887, the gentlemen owning the lands above mentioned, requested Mr. Potter to take the charge of them, perfect the titles, and suggest such disposition as might be of for a charter for the construction of a low bridge across the Missouri River connecting Council Bluffs with East Omaha. On the third day of March, the bill was signed by the president of the United States and ap- proved by the secretary of war. From that time on, Mr. Potter worked with a persist- ency which would not recognize the word " failure" against the most powerful opposi- tion, until, in July, 1892, when he was suc- cessful, in company with his associates, in securing the necessary funds for the building of the bridge, completion of the Council Bluffs terminals, and the building of terminals in the city of Omaha, the whole projeet being on an absolutely in- dependent basis, no railroad or railroads interest to the owners. This he did, open- - having any control whatever in the pro- posed improvements.
ing streets and thereby making the faet evident that the property was one of far greater value than had previously been sup- posed. During the next two years, he had succeeded in perfecting the title to all of tlie lands originally purchased, and of acquiring in all nearly two thousand aeres. At this time, Mr. Potter conceived the idea of forming the lands so acquired into a per-
manent suburb to the city and of naming it East Omaha. Ile proposed a system of im- provement which should eost several hundred thousand dollars, for the grading of streets, building of eleetrie railways, and opening up in general the tract of land, which pre- viously had been considered waste territory. lle was successful in seenring on the traet certain manufacturing industries, furnishing railway facilities and making other improve- ments. The land thus improved grew very rapidly in value. In the summer of 1890, it beeame to him fully apparent that the future success of the project of East Omaha for the benefit of its promoters and for the general good of the city of Omaha, should have an outlet directly across the Missouri River and that the railroads entering Council Bluffs from the east should have direet aceess with the East Omaha lands, by a bridge across the Missouri River. From this time on, he devoted his whole energy to the development of this projeet.
Mr. Potter has always, since he made Omaha his home, been broad and unbiased in his ideas and has ever had Omaha, the city ehosen for his permanent residence, closest to his heart, and has demonstrated, that first, last and all the time, he is seeking that which will develop Omaha's importance in the commercial world.
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LYMAN RICHARDSON was born in Pontiac, Michigan, June 6, 1834, His father was Origen D. Richardson, a native of Ver- mont. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah P. Hill, was a native of Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Richardson acquired his education in the public and private schools of Michigan, and in 1850 entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1851. In the fall of that year he joined an engineering party engaged in surveying the lower Des Moines River for slack water navigation, and in 1855 joined his father in Omaha. Ile entered the office of Judge Lake, and there read law, was admitted to the bar in 1858, but not finding the legal profession attractive, he never entered the practice. In 1857 and 1858 he formed a partnership with Dr. G. L. Miller, and together they erected a large brick hotel, once known as the Herndon House, and now the Union Pacific headquarters. In September, 1860, he married Virginia Harrison Clarke, daughter of John M. Clarke then, as now, a resident of Omaha, but for- merly of Richmond, Virginia. Four children have been born. to them, two of whom are now living, Mary, wife of William R. Morris, Esq., and Ralph, at school in Massachusetts.
When the civil war broke out Mr. Rich- ardson's patriotism and desire to see the Union preserved, led him to enrol his name among the foremost of those who enlisted in Nebraska. Ile was chosen second lieutenant of Company F, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and served on the staff of General John M. Thayer until September, 1863. Ile participated in Sherman's first campaign against Vicksburg in the winter of 1862-3, and later in the seige and capture of that city, and was present at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou and at the capture of Arkansas Post. From November, 1863, to August, 1864, he was on the staff of General Fred Steele in charge of river and railroad transportation at Little Rock, Arkansas. In August of the latter year he resigned the captaincy to which he had been promoted, and soon after the close of the war became a cotton planter, and also engaged in lum- bering in Arkansas. Convinced at the end of some three years that much more remunerative employment and a much bet- ter field for investment had developed at Omalıa, then the eastern terminus of the nearly completed Union Pacific Railway,
he returned to this place in 1868 and became associated with Dr. Miller in the publication of the Herald, which soon took a leading place among the journals of Nebraska and the West. His connection with this paper continued till March, 1887, when Miller & Richardson sold the Herald to a stock company of which Hon. John A. Mc- Shane was a principal stockholder. Mr. Richardson has never sought place nor political preferment, but rather has confined his efforts to the acquisition of property and the management of his private affairs. Ile is now one of the largest holders of real estate in Omaha, the care of which, since his retirement from the management of the Herald, has occupied a large part of his time and attention.
O. D. RICHARDSON .- Prominent for many years among the citizens of Omaha and Nebraska, and especially conspicuous in the early days, was Hon. Origen D. Richardson, who was born in Woodstock, Vermont, in 1796. In the war of 1812 he was a private in the volunteers of his native state, and fought at the battle of Plattsburg, New York, where General Macomb and Captain Mc- Donough won a brilliant victory over the British September IIth, 1814.
Ile studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1824. Five years later he located in Michigan, where he practiced law and took an active part in that frequent concomitant of the legal profession-politics. In each of these he was successful, and soon ranked among the first lawyers, was recognized as one of the leaders of the Democratic party, and was frequently rewarded for political services with public office. HIe served in both branches of the legislature while Michigan was a territory, and after it was admitted to statehood. From 1844 to 1848 he filled the office of lieutenant gov- ernor. Ilis unswerving devotion to what he believed true principles, and his unsullied integrity, gained for him the fullest confi- dence and respect of the people of Michigan.
In September, 1854, Governor Richardson removed to Omaha, and fitted as he was by years of political experience, at once took a leading part in territorial affairs. He was elected to the first territorial council, and in 1855 was appointed one of the commission- ers to prepare a code of laws, Most of this work he did himself, and this codification
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is the basis of the present laws of Nebraska. He continued the practice of his profession, and was regarded as one of the leaders of the bar. The revised statutes of 1867 were prepared by Mr. Richardson, J. S. Sharp and A. J. Poppleton. Most of the work, however, was done by Mr. Richardson, who was an able jurist as well as an effective ad- vocate. Such is the estimate of the man by Mr. Poppleton, who pays him the following tribute: "Governor Richardson-who died in Omaha, in 1876, was a clear and logical thinker, with the additional gift of a pleas- ing and effective style of speech. Through his strongest and most serious efforts there was apt to run an undercurrent of humor, ridicule and satire, which maintained the in- terest of conrt and auditors at the highest point; yet his chief power lay in the vigor and conclusiveness of his argument. One of Governor Richardson's best traits was his interest and sympathy with young men, students and lawyers. He was naturally genial and kindly to all, and was never too busy for a pleasant word and a hearty greet- ing to the young .* *
* The impress of a noble character is never effaced, but becomes a guide and monitor of youth forever. Ilis family life was singularly happy. After fifty years of domestic happiness, in which youthful vows and attachments grew stronger and more sacred with the lapse of years, hus- band and wife were called together-cross- ing the silent river, as they had so long journeyed upon earth, side by side. He left one son and two daughters, all yet living- Lyman Richardson, from its origin until very recently joint founder and proprietor and business manager of the Omaha Herald; Mr. Z. B. Knight and Mrs. G. I. Gilbert, all important factors in the best life of Omaha."
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