USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 15
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
At least on one occasion after coming to Omaha, Mr. Reed took up his old occupation of telegrapher for a brief period. In March, 1861, an ice gorge in the Platte River interfered with the wires between Omaha and St. Louis and the Omaha Telegraph announced that Operator Peck "has gone down to attend to the matter and will cross from side to side in a skiff, forming the connections with the wire on either side, and through Mr. Byron Reed, at Omaha, will keep up the transaction of public and private business as heretofore."
104
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
Between Mr. Peck and Mr. Reed the following messages were exchanged, which show the latter's sense of humor, even in the face of the most discourag- ing circumstances :
"North Bank Platte River, March 1, M. Dear Reed :- Have just arrived. Platte River flooded and running full of ice. Think it very dangerous to cross, but will make the attempt.
"PECK."
"Omaha, 12 M. Dear Peck :- Leave all your valuables on this shore, so that if you are drowned the loss may be as light as possible.
"REED."
Mr. Reed died at his home in Omaha on June 6, 1891, leaving a widow and two children : Abraham L. Reed and Mrs. Frank B. Johnson.
Lyman Richardson, the first register of deeds of Douglas County, was born in Pontiac, Michigan, June 6, 1834, a son of Origen D. Richardson, a pioneer member of the Nebraska bar. After attending the public schools, he entered the University of Michigan and graduated with the class of 1854. For several months he was employed with a party of engineers engaged in surveying the lower Des Moines River for slack water navigation, but in 1855 he joined his father in Omaha. Soon after his arrival he was appointed register of deeds, but was succeeded before the close of the year by Thomas O'Connor. Mr. Richardson then took up the study of law under George B. Lake and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. Finding the practice of law uncongenial, he formed a partnership with Dr. George L. Miller and they erected the Herndon House, which soon became Omaha's most popular hotel. In September, 1860, hc married Miss Virginia, daughter of John M. Clarke, and when the Civil war began the next year he entered the military service as second lieutenant of Company F, First Nebraska Infantry. He served with his regiment until the close of the war and was mustered out as captain of the company. He was then engaged in lumbering in Arkansas until 1868, when he returned to Omaha and became associated with Dr. George L. Miller in the publication of the Omaha Herald. Here he remained until the Herald was sold in March, 1887, to a stock company, of which John A. McShane was the head, after which Mr. Richardson gave his attention to his large real estate holdings and other private affairs until his death.
Milton Rogers, one of the early merchants of Omaha, was born in Maryland, June 22, 1822. Going to New Lisbon, Ohio, he there learned the tinner's trade, at which he worked in Muncie, Indiana, and Cincinnati until 1850. In August of that year he located at Council Bluffs (then called Kanesville), where he established a tin shop and put in a stock of stoves. A little later he added a general hardware line, and in June, 1855, opened a branch store in Omaha -- probably the first of its kind in Nebraska. That store was located in a frame building on the north side of Farnam Street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. It was only 20 by 40 feet in dimensions. In 1861 he moved over to Omaha and put up a frame building at the southeast corner of Fourteenth and Farnam streets, into which he moved in March, 1862. Five years later he united with the adjoining property holders in the erection of a three-story brick block. Mr. Rogers was married in Council Bluffs on November 27, 1856, to Miss Jennie
105
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
S. Spoor, and when his sons became old enough to take part in the business the firm took the name of Milton Rogers & Sons, under which it is still conducted on the south side of Harney Street, a few doors east of Sixteenth.
Mr. Rogers was one of those who came over from Council Bluffs and assisted in organizing the first Odd Fellows Lodge in Omaha; was a member of the company that put in the first waterworks for the city; was one of the incorporators of the South Omaha Land Company ; served as a director of the Union Stock Yards Company, and was generally recognized as a public spirited citizen. He died on November 12, 1895.
It is a common thing, when an old resident dies, for the newspapers to publish an obituary notice under the headline-"Another Pioneer Gone." As a matter of fact, the real pioneers are exceedingly scarce. There always have been, and always will be, old settlers, in the sense that they have long been residents of the community, but the pioneers-the men who came before the Indians departed and developed the country from the beginning-have nearly all passed away. However, there is one real pioneer still living in Omaha. That man is Samuel E. Rogers, who first came here in August, 1854.
Samuel E. Rogers was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, February 11, 1822. In 1848 he married Miss Martha Brown, of Michigantown, Ind., and in 1852 received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Wabash College, at Craw- fordsville, Ind. He then went to Havana, Ill., and in 1853 was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of that state. He served as postmaster and in the city council of Havana, and in August, 1854, came to Omaha to look at the country. Liking the prospect, he returned to Havana for his family and became a resident of Omaha on October 28, 1854. His father, William Rogers, had taken a claim of 320 acres just south of the town plat, but died on October 14, 1854, his property rights descending to his son, who moved upon the land in 1856 and lived there for four years. He was a member of the council in the first four sessions of the Territorial Legislature, and in June, 1855, was admitted to practice law in the Nebraska courts, but never followed that profession. He was one of the original stockholders in the State Bank and when it was reor- ganized as the Merchants National Bank in 1882 was made vice president. He was one of the company that built the old Coliseum, at Twentieth and Lake streets in 1888, and was one of the incorporators of the South Omaha Land Company. Mr. Rogers was one of the early members of Capital Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons. On February 11, 1916, he celebrated his ninety- fourth birthday anniversary and is a real pioneer.
Alvin Saunders, the last territorial governor of Nebraska, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, July 12, 1817. When he was about twelve years old his parents removed to Illinois and in 1836 Alvin "struck out for himself." Going to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, he first found employment as a farm hand, later clerking in a country store and attending school as opportunity offered. The postoffice at Mount Pleasant was established in 1837 and President Van Buren appointed Mr. Saunders the first postmaster, although he was a whig, but no one else would accept the place. He was removed by President Polk in 1847. Mr. Saunders was a delegate to the constitutional convention that framed the constitution under which Iowa was admitted to the Union, and afterward served two terms in the State Senate. He was a delegate to the republican national
106
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
convention in 1860 and voted for the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, who appointed him governor of Nebraska Territory in 1861. In 1865 he was reap- pointed, his commission for the second term being dated April 14, 1865, the day President Lincoln was assassinated.
When Governor Saunders first came to the territory, Nebraska was practically without money and without an established credit, yet, despite these conditions, he issued his call for volunteers, with the result that the territory, with a popula- tion of less than thirty thousand, raised about three thousand troops. (See chapter on Military History.) On March 27, 1867, Governor Saunders received official notice from Washington that Nebraska had been admitted to statehood and turned the office over to Governor David Butler. In 1868 he was a delegate to the republican national convention and in 1877 was elected United States senator. He was president of the board of regents which erected the high school building; was one of the original stockholders in the Omaha Smelting Company ; engaged in the banking business in 1875 and was a director in the Merchants National and the Nebraska Savings and Exchange banks; was vice president of the Mutual Investment Company and the Omaha & Southwestern Railroad Company ; controller of the Omaha Real Estate and Trust Company, and was interested in other enterprises for the advancement of Omaha's inter- ests. His son, Charles L. Saunders, is a prominent real estate man of Omaha and has served several terms in the State Senate, and a daughter is the wife of Russell B. Harrison, son of the late President Benjamin Harrison.
William P. Snowden, mentioned elsewhere as the man who built the first dwelling in Omaha, was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, April 19, 1825. His father was a clergyman and in 1833 the family removed to Missouri. There William received a limited education and in 1846 enlisted in Donovan's regiment for service in the Mexican war. In July, 1847, he married Miss Rachel Larrisu, in Buchanan County, Missouri, and in 1853 came to Council Bluffs bringing his effects in a wagon drawn by a team of oxen. Mr. Snowden used to be fond of telling of his first night's experience in Council Bluffs. Robert Whitted then conducted a hotel there and Mr Snowden applied for accommodations for him- self and wife He was informed that the hotel had plenty of provisions, but the rooms were all occupied, most of them with "two in a bed." It was finally arranged that Mr. and Mrs. Snowden might furnish their own bedding and make a "shake down" on the floor of the dining room. Late that night some more guests arrived and Mr. Whitted came to the dining room to borrow some of the Snowdens' bed clothes, which were cheerfully loaned, though Mr. Snow- den, in telling the story, says: "Bob Whitted didn't make any allowance for this the next morning when he presented his bill."
On July 11, 1854, he crossed over to Omaha and took up his residence in the "claim cabin" of the Council Bluffs & Nebraska Ferry Company, where he conducted a sort of hotel, at the same time working in the brick yard. In the Civil war he enlisted in the cavalry company known as the "Curtis Horse," which afterward became part of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He re-enlisted and remained in the army until August 20, 1865. After being mustered out he returned to Omaha, where he served four years as city marshal and four years as deputy sheriff of Douglas County.
John M. Thayer, soldier and politician, was born at Bellingham, Mass.,
ALVIN SAUNDERS
107
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
where he attended school and studied law. He came to Omaha on November 28, 1854, crossing the Missouri River in a canoe with Thomas O'Connor and another Irishman named Boyle. Soon after becoming a resident of the town he joined the Omaha Claim Club. In 1859 he commanded the expedition against the Pawnee Indians and the same year was a member of the convention at Bellevue which organized the republican party in Nebraska. He was the candi- date of the new party for delegate to Congress, but was defeated by Mr. Daily. He was again defeated for delegate in 1860, but was elected to the council in the Territorial Legislature. At the commencement of the Civil war he was commissioned colonel of the First Nebraska Infantry, and in 1862 was promoted to brigadier-general. He was one of the first United States senators from Nebraska, elected in 1867; was elected governor in 1886 and re-elected in 1888. Governor Thayer was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. His death occurred on March 19, 1906.
Robert B. Whitted, one of Douglas County's representatives in the first Territorial Legislature, was born in Maury County, Tennessee, April 26, 1822, of Welsh stock, his ancestors having been among the first Quaker immigrants to the United States. Both his grandfathers served under Gen. Nathaniel Greene in the Revolutionary war and his father was with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. About 1837 his parents removed to Parke County, Indiana, and in 1846 Robert went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he started a tanyard. There he married Miss Lucinda Hurley and in 1850 started for California, but stopped at Council Bluffs, where he conducted a hotel until the organization of Nebraska Territory. He selected a claim in 1854 where Omaha now stands ; was the first sherff of the Omaha Claim Club, and in December, 1854. was elected one of the representatives in the Territorial Legislature. In 1857 he removed to Gray- son County, Texas, and died there in 1864.
This list of pioneers might be prolonged indefinitely, but the men mentioned in this chapter were among the representative "Builders of Omaha." True, they were actuated by selfish motives to a certain degree, but in building up their own fortunes their prosperity was reflected upon those around them. In the chapters on Bench and Bar and the Medical Profession will be found sketches of the early attorneys and physicians, and pioneers in other callings will be men- tioned in the proper places. A study of what these men accomplished shows that they were of the stuff of which heroes are made. They were not great. in the sense that they were conquerors of empires, famous artists or sculptors, noted inventors or eminent statesmen, but each played his part in the building of Nebraska and the City of Omaha.
CHAPTER X
THE INCORPORATED CITY
CONDITIONS IN 1853-RAPID GROWTHI OF TIIE VILLAGE-A NEWSPAPER BOOST -- INCORPORATION-THE FIRST ELECTION-EARLY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS-A MUNICIPAL HOTEL-EARLY FINANCIAL MATTERS-SCRIP AUTHORIZED-THE FIRST BOND ISSUE-PRACTICING ECONOMY-SOME ODD LEGISLATION-FIRE DE- PARTMENT-POLICE FORCE-PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS-GRADING THE STREETS- SEWER SYSTEM-IIOW THE STREETS WERE NAMED-COMMISSION FORM OF GOV- ERNMENT-GREATER OMAHA.
When the Council Bluffs & Nebraska Ferry Company decided in 1853 to lay out a town on the west side of the Missouri River, the site was "fresh from the hands of nature." There was not a civilized habitation nearer than the trading post at Bellevue on the south, and the old Mormon settlement at Flor- ence on the north. The progress of the new town was even more rapid than its founders had anticipated, as may be seen from the following "facts and figures," taken from the Omaha Times of June 7, 1857:
"The growth of Omaha astonishes-is a fact few can comprehend. Look at its chronology :
"1853, June-Town claim made by the company and kept by them by paying tribute to the Indians, whose title had not been extinguished.
"1854, June-No settlement but a single house, the old St. Nicholas, of round logs, sixteen feet square, built by the company as an improvement to hold the claim.
"1855, June-Number of inhabitants 250 to 300. Best lots sold at $100. "1856, June-Number of inhabitants about 800. Best lots sold at $600.
"1856, October-Number of inhabitants 1,600. Best lots sold at $2,500."
The editor predicted that another year would see Omaha with a population of 5,000. Even allowing for the tendency of local newspapers to boom the town, the growth of Omaha during these early years was all that its pro- moters could reasonably expect or desire.
INCORPORATION
The Third Territorial Legislature was convened on Jannary 5, 1857, and early in the session a bill was introduced "to incorporate the Town of Omaha City." After some discussion and amendment the bill passed and was approved by Governor Izard on February 2. 1857. The bill fixed the "middle of the main
108
109
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
channel of the Missouri River" as the eastern boundary, and the corporate limits included the following described tracts of land :
"Sections 12 and 22; fractional sections II, 14 and 23; the south half of frac- tional section 10; the south half of the north half of fractional section 10; the southeast quarter of section 9; the east half of section 16; the northeast quarter of section 21 ; the east half of the southeast quarter of section 21 ; the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 28; and the north half of the north half of fractional section 26-all in township 15 north of range 13, east of the Sixth Principal Meridian."
The name, "City of Omaha," was given in the bill as the official designation of the new town. Prior to the passage of this measure the town had been known as "Omaha City," but the act of the Legislature in changing the form to the City of Omaha caused the word "city" to be dropped entirely and in a short time the municipality became generally known in common parlance as "Omaha." The public officials provided for were a mayor, recorder, treasurer, assessor, marshal and nine aldermen. The Legislature of 1858 reduced the number of aldermen to six.
THE FIRST ELECTION
Under the provisions of the act of incorporation an election was held on the first Monday in March ( March 2), 1857, for city officials. At that election Jesse Lowe was chosen mayor; H. C. Anderson, recorder; Lyman Richardson, assessor; J. A. Miller, marshal; George C. Bovey, William N. Byers, Thomas Davis, C. H. Downs, Taylor C. Goodwill, A. D. Jones, Thomas O'Connor, H. H. Visscher and William W. Wyman, aldermen. A man named Allen (first name apparently forgotten) was elected treasurer, but failed to qualify, and John H. Kellom was elected to fill the vacancy.
EARLY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Mayor Lowe was inaugurated as soon as the results of the election were known, and his first official act was to issue a call for the board of aldermen to convene on March 5, 1857, "for the transaction of such business as may legally come before it." Every member of the council was present at that meeting and the work of starting the municipal machinery was commenced by. the adoption of the rules of the upper house of the Territorial Legislature for the guidance of the council. Notices were given by several of the members that at an early day ordinances would be introduced relating to the following subjects: I. To define the duties of the city recorder in the matter of official bonds and oaths of office ; 2. To protect the city marshal in the performance of his official duties; 3. To divide the city into wards and establish the boundaries thereof ; 4. To prevent hogs from running at large; 5. To establish a city pound for stray animals ; 6. To create the office of city engineer and define his duties; 7. To regulate billiard rooms and bowling alleys; 8. To regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors ; 9. To suppress gambling and gambling rooms. The board also instructed the recorder to have the following printed and posted in conspicuous places about the city :
110
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
"Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Omaha has organized for the transaction of such business as may be brought before it for the welfare of said city, and at the first session thereof it was resolved that all petitions to their honorable body be addressed or presented to the city recorder, and by him presented to the council for their consideration, and that the citizens of said city be and are hereby requested to make known their wishes by petition at as early a day as possible."
At the second meeting of the council a few days later, the following standing committees were appointed : Judiciary, Claims, Streets and Grades, Improvements, Printing. The firm of Hapburn & Chapman submitted a proposition to supply the council with certain printed forms and blanks, but the figures were evidently not satisfactory, as T. H. Robertson was elected city printer. The first ordinance was introduced at this meeting. Its author was A. D. Jones and it provided for the division of the city into wards and the establishment of ward boundaries. T. G. Goodwill introduced an ordinance to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors.
For some time the council held meetings nearly every day. After a few months the necessity for such frequent meetings no longer existed and it was ordered that the regular meetings be held on Tuesday evening of each week. At one of these early sessions the recorder was directed to communicate with the city authorities of Chicago, "or some other well regulated city," and procure ten copies of the city ordinances for the use of the council. Recorder Anderson procured ten copies of the ordinances of Iowa City, Iowa, and it has been said that his reason for not obtaining the Chicago ordinances was because "he did not regard Chicago as a proper model for Omaha."
A MUNICIPAL HOTEL
In laying out the town the seven blocks bounded by Eighth, Ninth, Jackson and Davenport streets were designated as "The Park." One of the great needs of Omaha at the time of its incorporation was a hotel large enough and conducted in such a manner as to accommodate the strangers visiting the city. At the meeting of the council on March 13, 1857. Dr. George L. Miller presented a petition, signed by 130 citizens, asking that a part of the park be appropriated to aid in the erection of such a hotel. The petition was referred to the committee on public grounds, and, as if to influence the committee in reaching a decision, the following resolutions were adopted :
"Resolved, That a portion of the public grounds known as 'The Park' be donated for the purpose of securing the erection of a hotel, worth not less than thousand dollars, said hotel to be located between Fifth and Twentieth and Howard and Webster streets, said location, with the above restrictions, to be determined by the builder ; and be it further
"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to receive proposals for the building of said hotel, and that they be authorized to close a contract with a responsible party who will undertake to build said hotel for the least quantity of said grounds."
The special committee of three, to which the question was referred, made a report recommending that "a plan and specifications of such hotel be made by a
T
OVERLAND #TACT OFFICE
Courtesy Union Pacific Railroad
THE HERNDON HOUSE, FIRST HOTEL IN OMAHA, AS IT APPEARED IN 1865 The Overland stage is shown about to leave for the west
111
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
competent and experienced architect and submitted to the council for approval ; and after said plan and specifications shall have been approved by the council, the same shall be published in the papers of Omaha and Council Bluffs for two weeks, and give notice that all bids shall contain all the securities' names which may be offered, and the bids sealed and directed to the president of the city council, which bids shall specify the number of lots on said park they will ask as a donation by the city as a bonus towards the erection. Said proposals shall be handed in before the first day of April, and shall be opened and acted upon in open council at the first regular session after that date."
The first meeting of the council after the bids were submitted was on Tuesday evening, April 7, 1857, when four proposals were acted upon by the council. After the bids had been considered Mr. Byers moved that Dr. George L. Miller be declared the successful bidder for the hotel contract. The motion carried and the city attorney was directed to draw up a contract, to be signed by Mayor Lowe and Doctor Miller. As a decision had previously been reached by. the council to have the hotel erected upon some part of the tract known as "The Park," the city engineer was instructed to proceed at once to plat that tract into blocks and lots corresponding with those adjacent.
Charles Grant, who had been elected city attorney on March 12, 1857, drew up the contract according to the instructions of the council, and A. S. Morgan, who had been elected city engineer at the same time, immediately divided "The Park" into blocks and lots to correspond to those adjoining. Before the contract was signed, Doctor Miller associated with him Lyman Richardson and George Bridge as partners in the undertaking, and a little later these gentlemen were given permission to erect the hotel on lots No. 7 and 8. block 124-the northwest corner of Ninth and Farnam streets. The hotel, the first of any size in Omaha, was four stories high, built of brick and cost $75,000. It was opened in June, 1858, under the name of the "Herndon House," with M. W. Keith as the pro- prietor. After being used as a hotel for many years it was sold to the Union Pacific Railroad Company for a general office building.
It may seem strange to the people of the present day, when private capital can be found to build hotels, that the city fathers would lend their aid and appropriate lands belonging to the city for such a purpose. But in 1857 condi- tions were different. The demand for a hotel was much greater than private capital could supply, and the first aldermen deemed it the part of wisdom to give to Omaha a hostelry that would accommodate the traveling public. For years the Herndon House was the point where the Overland Stage Route landed its passengers in Omaha, before the railroads came and put the stage driver out of business.
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.