USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 48
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SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, FOREST LAWN CEMETERY
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Theater Building. H. B. Smith was president at the beginning of the year 1916; I. A. Coles was secretary, and D. C. Callahan was superintendent.
In 1885, as soon as the organization was completed, Forest Lawn Cemetery Association was incorporated. Those who signed the articles of incorporation were: James J. Brown, Charles H. Brown, Moses H. Bliss, William R. Bowen, John H. Bracken, Hugh G. Clark, Jacob C. Denise, James Forsyth, Simeon T. Josselyn, Herman Kountze, Eben K. Long, Milton Rogers, Arthur P. Wood and Orlando S. Wood. It is a curious fact that the first burial in this cemetery was that of John H. Bracken, one of the incorporators and the man from whom the half section of land was purchased. His death occurred in California on September 1, 1886, and the remains were brought to Omaha for interment. Forest Lawn is the largest cemetery in Douglas County and one of the large cemeteries of the nation. Sections in it have been set apart for the use of Douglas County, the Masonic fraternity, the Grand Army of the Republic and some other organizations. On May 16, 1915, a handsome building for a chapel and crema- tory was dedicated, Rev. Edward H. Jenks delivering the dedicatory address. The office of the association is at 720 Brandeis Theater Building. At the begin- ning of 1916 O. C. Campbell was president; M. H. Bliss, vice president ; H. S. Mann, secretary and treasurer; J. Y. Craig, superintendent.
Mount Hope Cemetery Association was organized in 1888, with P. W. Birk- hauser, president; F. L. Blumer, secretary ;. H .H. Benson, treasurer; F. W. Melcher, agent. A tract of 120 acres on the military road, a short distance northwest of the present City of Benson, was purchased and laid out in burial lots. This is now one of the popular burial places about Omaha. F. L. Weaver is president; W. M. Giller, secretary and treasurer; I. L. Chappelle, superin- tendent, and the office of the association is at 658 Brandeis Building.
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, containing about forty acres and lying just north of Leavenworth Street in the western part of the city, was established as a Catholic burial place in the late '60s. Some years prior to that time a tract of land north of St. Mary's Avenue and east of Twenty-fourth Street was consecrated as a Catholic cemetery and was used for several years. Then the city encroached to such an extent that the bodies were removed to the cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre.
Another Catholic cemetery is St. Mary's, which is situated directly south of the Union Stock Yards in South Omaha. Farther west, north of Q Street and east of Forty-ninth Street is the German Catholic Cemetery.
Directly north of the German Catholic Cemetery, at Forty-fourth and L streets, is the Graceland Park Cemetery, which is owned and controlled by an association of which H. M. Christie is president; W. Farnam Smith, vice presi- dent; Arthur C. Pancoast, secretary ; G. H. Brewer, treasurer, and John H. Hesselink, superintendent. The office of the association is at 1320 Farnam Street.
Westlawn Cemetery, located west of Fifty-second Street and south of Elm- wood Park, contains about one hundred and fifty acres. It is one of the new burial places and is conducted by an association that has an office at 206 Withnell Building. N. P. Dodge, Jr., is president; B. A. Wilcox, vice president; H. E. Ball, secretary; H. D. Brown, treasurer.
Among the minor cemeteries are the Bohemian cemetery at Fifty-fourth and
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Lincoln streets ; Golden Hill, the Hebrew cemetery on North Forty-second Street ; the Russian Israelite cemetery, in the same locality ; Pleasant Hill, a little farther north on Forty-second Street, and Springwell Danish cemetery on Redman Avenue. All these are maintained by church organizations. In all the cemeteries operated by incorporated associations perpetual care is given to the graves at the expense of the association.
An old map of Douglas County shows cemeteries as follows: One in the northwest corner of section 8, township 14, range 13, in the southern part of Douglas Precinct; one in the northwest corner of section 35, township 15, range to, on the bank of the Elkhorn River in Chicago Precinct; one in the southwest part of section 13, township 15, range 10, about two miles from the Town of Waterloo.
CHAPTER XXVI
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION-TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES- ART SOCIETIES-KNIGHTS OF AK-SAR-BEN-MASONIC FRATERNITY-ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR-INDEPENDENT ORDER ODD OF FELLOWS-DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-THE ELKS- WOODMEN OF THE WORLD- GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES-DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-TRADES UNIONS-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-SOCIAL CLUBS.
It would be neither advisable or expedient to attempt to give a detailed history of every society, club, or minor fraternal organization, past and present, in the City of Omaha and Douglas County. Many of them are, or were during their existence, merely neighborhood affairs, with only a local significance. Such societies as have some bearing upon the general history of the city and county, as well as the leading fraternal orders, are entitled to recognition. The first society of this character, of which any record has been preserved, was the "Omaha Town- ship Claim Association," a history of which is given in one of the preceding chap- ters of this work.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
As most of the early settlers of Douglas County were tillers of the soil, it was natural that one of the first voluntary associations in the county was the Douglas County Agricultural Society, which was organized in 1858, with Lewis A. Walker, president ; John M. Thayer, O. B. Selden, Joseph Barker, John Steinberger, George Mckenzie and J. W. Roberts, vice presidents; William Young Brown, secre- tary; J. E. Allen, treasurer. An executive committee was also chosen, consist- ing of E. H. Chaplin, Jesse Lowe, Hadley D. Johnson, J. T. Griffin, Allen Root, B. H. Chapman, R. S. Briant, J. B. Allen, J. D. Creighton, M. T. Patrick, J. G. Megeath, R. D. Whitney, W. T. Backus and A. J. Hanscom.
The first fair given by the society was held at Saratoga on the last day of September and the first day of October in 1858. It was patterned to some extent after the county fairs in the older states, the principal divisions of exhibits being live stock, farm products, fruits and vegetables, domestic manufactures; and the executive committee announced that "Discretionary premiums will be awarded for articles not enumerated in the above list." The admission to the fair was 25 cents. The premium list was printed in the Nebraskian, the leading Omaha newspaper of that day, then cut out and pasted on a sheet of writing paper, on the back of which was written in the old-fashioned round hand the following: "The
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spring of 1858 commenced with a depression in all kinds of business, in prospects and prices. Produce of all kinds selling low; much held over not bringing the cost of production. Good corn is scarcely to be had, but the general price ranges below 50 cents per bushel. May 15th potatoes were selling at 20 to 30 cents per bushel. The weather was beautiful in March, but cold and backward from the middle of April to the middle of May. June and July were very wet, extra heavy rains for this country. Corn was washed out in many places. The emigration to the gold regions raised the price of corn and potatoes, but neither ranged above 50 cents a bushel."
Among the exhibitors were Joel T. Griffin, Jesse Lowe, Hadley D. Johnson, A. J. Simpson, J. W. Tousley, Moses Shinn, Edwin Patrick and O. P. Hurford. Mr. Griffin exhibited thirty varieties of vegetables and captured several prizes. J. W. Tousley took the first premium (five dollars) on his herd of hogs. The Omaha Times, in giving an account of this first fair, thus describes one of the features: "The fair closed with a specimen of equestrianism by ladies, although we are informed it was not down on the bills. The ladies entering for the prize- a beautiful side saddle-Mrs. E. V. Smith, Mrs. Boyd and Miss Augusta Esta- brook. The course chosen for the exercise was far too small, being but 200 feet square. The horses were put under a full run and in the short turn both horses and riders, to maintain an equilibrium, were going at an angle of forty-five degrees. To say the least of it, the race was exciting. Miss Estabrook, upon her little pony, calm and collected, was loudly cheered by the spectators, as was also Mrs. Smith, upon a white pony. Mrs. Boyd also was entitled to her share of the award of praise. The falling from her horse at the close of the race, while it resulted in no material injury, was a subject of regret by all. The champions for the prize seemed to be Miss Estabrook and Mrs. Smith-more graceful riders than all three would be hard to find-and we are informed that the committee awarded it to Miss Estabrook. That little pony and cool little rider, under full run, have been flying around the race course of our brain ever since."
For several years from 1858, county fairs were held annually with more or less success. In 1875 the forty acres of land north of the city, on which the fairs had generally been held, were purchased by a company composed of A. H. Baker, Dr. J. P. Peck, A. S. and M. T. Patrick and James Stephenson. The new con- pany constructed a good race track, erected buildings, fenced the grounds, and incorporated as the Omaha Driving Park Association. Five years later the grounds and appurtenances were sold to a company composed of George Can- field, John D. Creighton, Charles H. and J. J. Brown, Chris Hartman, James E. Boyd, D. T. Mount, W. A. Paxton and Benjamin Wood. About fourteen or fifteen thousand dollars were expended in the improvement of the grounds and for several years after that date the state fair was held here.
The Douglas County Agricultural Society was reorganized in 1882, with D. T. Mount, president; George N. Crawford, secretary; J. J. Brown, treasurer. For several years it held its fairs either in the vicinity of its first location (some- times in conjunction with the state fair) or in the City of Omaha. Since 1900, when the state fair was permanently located at Lincoln, the county society has held its fair in connection with the Ak-Sar-Ben carnival.
Following is a list of the presidents of the society since the reorganization in 1882, with the year when each was elected, and each served until the election
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of his successor: D. T. Mount, 1882; G. N. Crawford, 1883; J. T. Paulsen, 1885; D. H. Wheeler, 1887; Frank Emerson, 1890; Hugh G. Clark, 1892; James Walsh, 1893; O. J. Pickard, 1896; G. R. Williams, 1898; O. J. Pickard, 1899; Charles Grau, 1900; J. R. Watts, 1901; John Armour, 1902; James Walsh, 1903; J. F. McArdle, 1904; J. H. Taylor, 1905; Charles Witte, 1906; J. W. Shumaker, 1908; F. P. Brown, 1909; George Dierks, 1910; William Lonergan, 1911; William Eicke, 1912; Peter Hofeldt, 1913; Charles Witte, 1914; James Walsh, 1915; Arthur A. Agee, 1916.
Alfred D. Jones was one of the early secretaries of the society. B. E. B. Ken- nedy held that office for twelve years, from 1862 to 1874, when the Douglas County Agricultural Society was merged into the Omaha Driving Park Associa- tion. G. W. Hervey was secretary from 1895 to 1912, and J. F. McArdle has held the office since that time. Lewis Henderson has held the office of treasurer since 1902.
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION
An Old Settlers' Association was organized in 1866 and Dr. Enos Lowe was elected president, which office he held for four years. The object of the organiza- tion was to unite all the early settlers of Douglas County into a society, for the purpose of social intercourse and the preservation of recollections of early inci- dents in the settlement of the county. But the organizers of the association found it difficult to interest any considerable number of people in its affairs, probably because the settlement was too recent, and after a few years the Old Settlers' Association was disbanded.
The Douglas County Association of Nebraska Pioneers was organized on February 1, 1906, when the following officers were elected to serve until the first annual meeting in January, 1907: George B. Lake, president; Martin Dun- ham, Harvey Link, David Anderson, Thomas Price and Sardius Brewster, vice presidents ; James S. Gibson, secretary ; Margaret A. O'Brien, assistant secre- tary ; Harry P. Deuel, treasurer. This association has been more of a success than its predecessor, as the roster for 1916 shows over eleven hundred names, 247 of whom have passed over to the silent majority. The by-laws of the association provide that an annual picnic shall be held on the 27th day of June, "unless that (lay comes on Sunday," and when the new courthouse was erected a room on the ground floor, in the southeast corner of the building was set apart for the use of the pioneers, where regular meetings are held on the second Thursday in cach month. The room in the courthouse is open every week day and forms a place where little groups of the old settlers can meet and talk over old times. Follow- ing is a list of the presidents since the organization of the association: George B. Lake, 1906; B. E. B. Kennedy, 1907; Martin Dunham, 1908; Joseph Redman, 1909; Thomas Swift, 1910; Frank X. Dellone, 1911; Absalom N. Yost, 1912; Martin J. Feenan, 1913; Augustus Lockner, 1914; Jonathan Edward, 1915; Wil- liam I. Kierstead, 1916.
The full list of officers for 1916 is as follows: William I. Kierstead, presi- dent ; Conrad G. Fisher, first vice president; Mrs. Jennie L. Maginn, second vice president; Mrs. Charles H. Fisette, third vice president; James Walsh, fourth vice president ; Charles H. Dougherty, fifth vice president ; James S. Taylor, sixth vice president ; Dan W. Shull, seventh vice president; Mrs. Mary Cormack,
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secretary ; Mrs. Anna K. Bowman, assistant secretary; Jacob M. Counsman, treasurer.
In September, 1916, a quartet-the four members all over seventy years of age and all veterans of the Civil war-was formed. The members of this quartet were as follows: E. W. Johnson, first tenor; J. F. Staley, second tenor; W. H. Russell, first bass; D. M. Haverly, second bass. This quartet made its first appearance at the regular meeting in September and on September 23, 1916, the "old boys" were at the picnic held in Hanscom Park, where they enlivened the program by their rendition of old time songs.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES
In the early '70s a temperance organization, known as the Independent Order of Good Templars, spread rapidly over the country. Lodges were organized in practically every village and in many instances in the country schoolhouses. Every member was required to sign a pledge to abstain from the use of strong drink and to discourage by every honorable means the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. A number of lodges were organized in Douglas County, a majority of them in the City of Omaha. The decline of the order was almost as rapid as its growth and in 1890, when the people of Nebraska voted on the prohibitory amendment, there was but one active lodge in the county. That was Life Boat Lodge, No. 150, whose members worked for the adoption of the amendment, which was defeated, and a year or two later this lodge also disbanded.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Omaha was organized in June, 1879, at a meeting held in the Methodist Church on Davenport Street. Mrs. W. B. Slaughter was elected president ; Mrs. M. E. Gratton, general secretary ; Mrs. W. L. Beans, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. D. C. Sutphen, treasurer. Within a few months a large number of the women belonging to the large and influential churches were enrolled as members. When the high license liquor law of 1881 was passed by the Legislature, the Union took an active interest in its enforce- ment. In 1884 a restaurant was opened on Fifteenth Street, near Capitol Avenue, the object being to offer good meals at low prices as a sort of competition to the free lunch counters of the saloons. In 1890 this organization was active in the support of the proposed prohibitory amendment to the Nebraska constitution. .Although defeated that year, the Union maintained its organization and in 1916 the Woman's Christian Temperance Unions of the state were again found work- ing for the adoption of a similar amendment.
ART SOCIETIES
In the fall of 1877 a "sketch class" was formed in Omaha by Mrs. Charles F. Catlin, who had been in New York for a year as a member of the Art Students' League. The class was started in October, 1877, and pursued its work two even- ings each week for two years, except through the summer months. The work of the class was entirely in black and white, from original figures, each member taking turns in posing for the benefit of the others.
Two years after the organization of this class the women of Trinity Epis- copal Church formed a temporary association for the purpose of conducting an "art loan exhibition." Of this association Mrs. R. H. Clarkson was president ;
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Mrs. A. J. Poppleton, secretary ; Mrs. Lyman Richardson, treasurer ; Mrs. Charles F. Catlin, superintendent of the exhibit. The exhibit comprised 232 oil paint- ings, water-colors and etchings; 273 specimens of bric-a-brac, art curios and household decoration; 192 pieces of pottery ; samples of lace and embroidery ; ancient jewelry, Indian relics, rare coins, etc., and was viewed by a large number of visitors.
The Social Art Club of Omaha was formed in November, 1881, with Mrs. James W. Van Nostrand, president; Mrs. Robert Doherty, vice president ; Mrs. J. J. L. C. Jewett, secretary ; Mrs. George L. Gilbert, treasurer. A sketch class was organized under the supervision of Charles Huntington and William Morris, assisted by Diederick Parker. Each spring and fall the work of the members was exhibited and opportunity given to those who wanted to make purchases. The Social Art Club contined for several years, when it disbanded to make way for a larger organization.
Next came the Western Art Association, which was formed in r888. In lune of that year Charles H. Kent issued a call in the Omaha daily papers for a meeting of persons interested in the study and promotion of art to meet at Meyer's art rooms on the corner of Sixteenth and Farnam streets. At that meeting a committee was appointed to visit the artists of the city and enlist their co-operation in the movement. After the committee had called upon most of those known to be interested in art work, another meeting was held at Meyer's place, with about fifty present. George W. Lininger explained the general objects of the proposed association, to wit: "To advance the knowledge and love of the fine arts through the exhibition of works of art, the acquisition of books and papers for the purpose of forming an art library, lectures upon sub- jects pertaining to art," etc. It was at that meeting that Mr. Lininger announced his intention of building and furnishing an art gallery near his residence, and his willingness to place such gallery at the disposal of the members of the association, should one be formed.
Mr. Lininger's address was warmly applauded and the Western Art Associa- tion was then organized, with George W. Lininger, president; Miss M. F. Mur- ray, vice president; Miss Kate M. Ball, secretary; Charles D. Kent, assistant secretary ; Miss Maggie Roeder, treasurer. A committee, consisting of Charles D. Kent, Mrs. Thomas M. Orr, Mrs. Frances Mumaugh, Mrs. George I. Gil- bert and Silas Robbins, was appointed to draft a constitution, which was adopted at a meeting on September 20, 1888, when the temporary officers were made permanent.
The first exhibition of the Western Art Association was held at the Lininger Art Gallery, opening on November 15, 1888, and continuing for three days. Another exhibition was given, May 15 to 20, 1889, when nearly three hundred paintings and drawings were shown. Semi-annual exhibitions were conducted by the association for several years before the organization disbanded. In con- nection with the Western Art Association a brief description of the Lininger Art Gallery might not be amiss. In 1873 George W. Lininger came to Omaha. Even at that time he possessed a number of finc paintings. In October, 1888, he erected the building in the rear of his residence and in connection with it. The gallery is of brick and terra cotta, 35 by 70 feet with walls 20 feet high and is lighted by a skylight. Here Mr. Lininger placed his collection of nearly three Vol. I-24
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hundred paintings and water-colors, some of them by old masters, statues, busts, vases, etc., valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars. James M. Woolworth and J. N. H. Patrick also had fine private collections and took considerable inter- est in the work of the Western Art Association while it was in existence.
The present Society of Fine Arts is an offshoot of the Omaha Woman's Club, and has been engaged in the encouragement of art for a number of years. On March 29, 1916, the society opened a fine exhibit of paintings and drawings in the public library building, continuing open to the public until the 18th of April. Fifteen thousand people visited the exhibition. At the close of the exhibition the society purchased two of the paintings shown-"A Pioneer Mother and Child," by Volk, and "An Autumn Scene," by Gorter. The officers of the association elected in March, 1916, were: Mrs. W. G. Ure, president; Mrs. Leonard Everett, of Council Bluffs, first vice president ; Mrs. John McDonald, second vice president; Mrs. C. C. Belden, secretary ; Mrs. John R. Ringwalt, treasurer.
KNIGHTS OF AK-SAR-BEN
No society, past or present, has done as much to advertise Omaha to the out- side world as the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben ( Nebraska spelled backward and divided into syllables). The following statement regarding the origin and history of this society, was prepared by the secretary, J. D. Weaver :
"Omaha's Ak-Sar-Ben was founded in 1895 by several of the leading mer- chants and prominent business men of the city. The organization was the result of an admitted need of stimulus and was designed to promote patriotism among the citizens, advertise the city and create a friendly feeling among neighbors.
"At the annual ball, the crowning social event of the year, one of the mem- bers of the board of governors is crowned 'King' and a young society woman 'Queen.' The names of the king and queen are kept a profound secret until the coronation, they being masked to that moment, which creates a great deal of interest and curiosity all over the state. The maids of honor and reception committee are selected from prominent society people throughout the towns in adjoining states, which also serves to interest the territory. The coronation is attended by five or six thousand persons and is a most extraordinary sight. Everything is conducted on a most elaborate scale, regardless of expense."
During carnival week, which usually occurs about the last of September or the first of October, one hundred thousand people or more come to Omaha to witness the gorgeous parades and partake in the festivities. The carnival is patterned to some extent after that of the celebrated Mardi Gras of New Orleans and includes industrial, electrical, military and historic parades. Frequently twenty or more bands come from the surrounding towns to take part in these parades. Each year shows an improvement over the preceding one, the carnival of 1916 being exceptionally entertaining and instructive. In connection with the carnival of this year the State of Nebraska celebrated the semi-centennial of its statehood. The historic parade included thirty-two magnificent floats, illustrating epochs from prehistoric ages to the present time. In addition to the floats were illustrated the expedition of Coronado in 1541; the expedition of the Mallet brothers in 1739; the return of the Astorians, etc. Indians from the
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Winnebago and Omaha reservations came down to Omaha and marched in the procession. The electrical parade represented a number of Shakespere's leading plays and was a gorgeous affair.
During the months of June, July, August and September preceding the car- nival, initiations are held at "The Den" (the old Coliseum at the corner of Twen- ty-fourth and Lake streets) every Monday evening. At these initiations from five hundred to one thousand visitors from nearby towns are present. The initiation ceremony, while grotesque, is conducted on an elaborate scale. All who reside within a given radius from Omaha are required to make formal applica- tion to the board of governors, the same as any secret society, and pay a fee of $10. Persons living beyond the restricted district are initiated free of charge. Governors, United States senators, prominent military men, and other dis- tinguished citizens are taken into the society annually. During the twenty-two years of Ak-Sar-Ben's existence every President of the United States, except Woodrow Wilson, has been a member. To quote again from the secretary's statement :
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