USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 59
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At the German Lutheran Church on the corner of Twenty-eight and Parker streets the wedding ceremony of Herman Evers and Miss Augusta Marquardt was brought to an abrupt close. Rev. E. T. Otto had just commenced the cere- mony in the usual form, when the storm struck the building with all its fury, carrying away part of the roof and the marriage license which the minister held in his hand. The organ and choir had just commenced "Oh Promise Me," but the music was drowned by the roar of the storm and the crash of falling timbers.
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The bride and groom hurried to an automobile and started for the Marquardt home at No. 2506 Maple Street, but were compelled to desert the machine and seek shelter in the cellar of the church, where the audience was hurried by Mr. Otto and all escaped without injury. The automobile in which Mr. Evers and his bride attempted to flee was never found.
On Monday morning a meeting was held at the city hall, at which was or- ganized a committee of fifty to direct the relief work. Seven members of this committee were appointed to gather statistics concerning the damages and for- mulate a plan for carrying on the work in a systematic way. This executive committee was composed of T. J. Mahoney (chairman), C. C. Rosewater (secre- tary), Robert Cowell (treasurer), Rev. John Williams, T. C. Byrne, E. F. Denison and J. M. Guild. From all over the country came telegrams to Mayor Dahlman offering assistance. One of these telegrams was from the President of the United States and read :
"I am deeply distressed at the news received from Nebraska. Can we help in any way?
"WOODROW WILSON."
To the President's telegram the mayor sent the following reply: "We all deeply appreciate your offer of aid, but I believe we can handle the situation. Our people are responding nobly. Major Hartmann of Fort Omaha and his men came promptly to our aid and are doing a great work. The people of Omaha are deeply grateful for your kind message of sympathy.
"JAMES C. DAHLMAN, Mayor.
This telegram was sent by the mayor after a conference with the directors of the Commercial Club. Later, when the extent of the damage wrought by the tornado became fully known, the mayor and the Commercial Club were severely criticized for their action. The club then passed a resolution rescinding its former position and the mayor sent telegrams of acceptance to those who had tendered assistance. Relief stations were established at 2508 North Twenty-fourth Street, under Frank Furay ; 1914 North Twenty-fourth Street, under Joseph Kelly ; 2726 Franklin Street, under J. L. McCague; Thirty-third and Cuming streets, under T. P. Redmond; Fortieth and Farnam streets, under G. H. Kelly; Forty-sixth and Leavenworth streets, under J. A. Sunderland. The relief committee made its final report on October 24, 1913, showing that the sum of $420,853.54 had been received. New York sent $16,000 and $5,000 came from the State of Illinois. The Nebraska Legislature appropriated $100,000, which was distributed to all the localities over which the storm passed.
Thirty-seven people were killed in the state outside of Omaha and ninety-three were injured. The greatest loss of life at any place except Omaha was at Yutan, where eighteen were killed and twenty-one were injured. The property loss there was $737,250. At Ralston nine were killed, and the principal property damage was as follows: Howard Stove Works, $50,000; Brown Truck Com- pany, $40,000; Omaha Furniture Company, $30,000. Rev. M. Cornish took charge of the relief work at Ralston and $38,000 were expended under his direc- tion. In Omaha 140 persons were killed and 400 injured. Two thousand houses were in the path of the storm and 800 of these were completely demolished.
REMAINS OF THE IDLEWILD POOL HALL ON NORTH TWENTY-FOURTH STREET AFTER THE CYCLONE OF MARCH 23, 1913 Seventeen persons were killed at this point
THE GEORGE A. JOSLYN RESIDENCE, THIRTY-NINTH AND DAVENPORT STREETS, AFTER THE CYCLONE, MARCH 23, 1913
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About three thousand people were rendered homeless. Fourteen of those killed were in the Idlewild pool room at Twenty-fourth and Grant streets and some of the bodies were not recovered for several days. Across the river in Iowa fourteen were killed and fifty were hurt. The property loss there reached over three- quarters of a million dollars. Telegraphic wires were all blown down and the only line in service was the leased wire to the office of the Omaha Daily News. Over it all telegraphic communication was conducted until other lines could be restored.
For a little while the people of Omaha looked with awe upon the devastation. Then they went to work with a spirit and determination rarely excelled to rebuild their homes. The visitor to the city today can see scarcely a trace to remind one of the great tornado of Easter Sunday in 1913.
CHAPTER XXXI
STATISTICAL REVIEW
RECLAIMING THE DESERT -- POPULATION AND WEALTH-THE FIRST CENSUS-LIST OF CITY OFFICIALS-THE COUNTY ROSTER-THE LEGISLATURE-LIST OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY-UNITED STATES SENATORS.
In the early part of the nineteenth century practically all the country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains was shown on the maps as the "Great American Desert." People accepted the statement of the geographers and for half a century after the Louisiana Purchase was made in 1803, but little attention was paid to the great West. Three score and ten years have passed since the Mormons founded their settlement at Florence-the first settlement made by white men within the limits of the present County of Douglas-and sixty-two years since Thomas B. Cuming, acting governor of Nebraska Territory, estab- lished Douglas County by official proclamation. The first census taken in the territory, in November, 1854, showed a population of 2,732, nearly one-half of which was in Douglas County. The growth in population, as shown by the United States census since 1800, the first official census after the county was organized, is shown in the following table :
1860 4,328
1870 19,982
1880 37,645
1890 158,008
1900
140,590
1910
168,546
From this table it will be seen that the greatest proportionate increase in population during any decade was from 1860 to 1870, when it was over 350 per cent, and this despite the fact that the country was involved in civil war for four years of that period. Only once in the history of the county does the census report show a decrease in the number of inhabitants between the years of the census-from 1890 to 1900. This decrease was no doubt due, in some degree, to the opening of new lands in other parts of the country, which gave men of moderate means an opportunity to acquire homes; though probably a part of it was due to inaccurate work on the part of the census enumerators. While the decrease for the entire county was 17,556, that of the City of Omaha was 37,897. The following table gives the population by "minor civil divisions" for the last three official censuses :
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Precinct or City
1890
1900
IQIO
Benson
4,36I
Chicago
1,075
1,103
1,055
Clontarf
140
I57
Douglas
477
859
1,717
Dundee
1,547
East Omaha
334
361
Elkhorn
610
726
670
Florence
1,357
1,148
2,217
Jefferson
801
963
986
McArdle
693
758
823
Millard
798
841
837
Omaha City
. 140,452
102,555
124,096
Platte Valley
943
1,342
1,496
South Omaha
8,062
26,00I
26,259
Union
841
933
983
Waterloo
850
1,086
98
West Omaha
1,049
1,80I
Total
158,008
I40,590
168,546
In this table the cities of Benson and Florence, and the several incorporated towns of the county, are included in the precincts where they are situated. The precinct of West Omaha does not appear in the census report for 1910, for the reason that it was abolished in 1901 and the territory comprising it was taken to form the precincts of Benson and Dundee. The latter was annexed to the City of Omaha on June 10, 1915. South Omaha was also made a part of the city at the same time.
The growth in wealth and industrial importance has kept pace with the increase in population. Through the energy and enterprising spirit of the American citizen, the "Great American Desert" has disappeared. Each succeed- ing census report shows a larger amount of capital invested, and a corresponding gain in the value of the output of farms and factories. The census of 1920 will show more money expended for schools, highways and permanent improvements than any previous decade since Douglas County was organized. Statistics relat- ing to the financial condition of the city and county at the beginning of the year 1916 are given in the chapter on Financial History.
CITY OFFICIALS
Following is a list of the principal city officials of Omaha from the time the city was incorporated in 1857 to the beginning of the year 1916, compiled from the city records and other sources. It is believed to be as nearly correct as such a list can be made, in the absence of some of the early records. The date following each name shows when the official entered upon the duties of the office :
Mayors-Jesse Lowe, 1857; A. J. Poppleton, 1858; George Armstrong, 1859 : D. D. Belden, 1860; Clinton Briggs, 1861; George Armstrong. 1862; B. E. B.
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Kennedy, 1863; A. R. Gilmore, 1864; Lorin Miller, 1865; Charles H. Brown, 1867; George M. Roberts, 1868; Ezra Millard, 1869; Smith S. Caldwell, 1871; Joseph H. Millard, 1872; William M. Brewer, 1873; Champion S. Chase, 1875; Reuben H. Wilbur, 1877; Champion S. Chase, 1879; James E. Boyd, 1881 ; Champion S. Chase, 1883; P. F. Murphy, 1885; James E. Boyd, 1886; W. J. Broatch, 1887; Richard C. Cushing, 1889; Geo. P. Bemis, 1891 ; W. J. Broatch, 1895; Frank E. Moores, 1897; James C. Dahlman, 1906 (still in office).
Note-Champion S. Chase instituted quo warranto proceedings in the District Court in 1887, alleging that he had been illegally ousted from the mayor's office and claiming the amount of salary paid to P. F. Murphy, who completed the unexpired term. Judge Eleazer Wakeley, then district judge, after hearing the case, directed the jury to find for the plaintiff. The amount of salary involved was nearly one thousand dollars.
City Clerks-H. C. Anderson, 1857; James W. Van Nostrand, 1858; Joseph R. Stokes, 1858; R. C. Jordan, 1858 (the three clerks in this one year was due to the death of one and the resignation of another) ; James W. Van Nostrand, 1859; George R. Smith, 1860 (succeeded before the close of the year by Byron Reed, who served by successive elections until 1866) ; William L. May, 1867; C. L. Bristol, 1868; Joseph M. McCune, 1872 ; O. C. Ludlow, 1875 ; Zachary Tay- lor, 1878; James F. McCartney, 1880; J. J. L. C. Jewett, 1881 ; J. B. Southard, 1886; John Groves, 1889; William C. Wakeley, 1893 (died on August 1, 1894, and John T. Evans appointed to fill out the unexpired term) ; Beecher Higby, 1894: William H. Elbourn, 1900; Daniel B. Butler, 1906; F. J. Flynn, 1913 (still in office).
City Treasurers-John H. Kellom, 1858; Joseph H. Millard, 1859; R. H. Brown, 1860; Daniel Gantt, 1861; Frank Murphy, 1864; Henry Gray, 1868; John Steen, 1871; Edward A. Johnson, 1873; Chris Hartman, 1875; Samuel G. Mallette, 1879; Truman Buek, 1882; John Rush, 1887; Henry Bolln, 1891; John H. Dumont (appointed to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Bolln on June 25, 1895) ; Albert G. Edwards, 1895; August H. Hennings, 1900; Robert O. Fink, 1906; Frank A. Furay, 1908; W. G. Ure, 1912 (served until the commis- sion form of government went into effect).
Comptrollers-This office was established in 1885 as that of eity auditor, when Eben K. Long was elected and served until 1887. The official title was then changed to "comptroller." Charles S. Goodrich, 1887; Theodore Olsen, 1891; John N. Westberg, 1895; C. O. Lobeck, 1906; T. H. Cosgrove, 1912; C. B. McDonald, 1913.
City Engineers-A. S. Morgan, 1857; Chauncey Wiltse, 1858; O. F. Davis, 1860; George Smith, 1866; R. C. Barnard, 1867 (succeeded after a short service by A. J. Wilgocke) ; William Kipp. 1868; J. E. House, 1871 ; Andrew Rosewater, 1871; Edmund Dutton, 1874; Andrew Rosewater, 1875; Wilbur F. Hawes, 1876; Henry Rohwer, 1878; Andrew Rosewater, 1881; George W. Tillson, 1889; Andrew Rosewater, 1891 ; R. B. Howell, 1895; Andrew Rosewater, 1897; Herman Beal, 1901; Andrew Rosewater, 1906; George W. Craig, 1909; Watson Town- send, 1913.
Police Judges-This office was established in 1868. Prior to that time the mayor of the city served also as police judge. John Sahler, 1868; John R. Porter, 1869; Erwin G. Dudley, 1873; R. H. Wilbur, 1874; John R. Porter,
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1875; Gustave Anderson, 1877; P. O. Hawes, 1879; Gustave Beneke, 1881 ; E. M. Stenberg, 1885; Louis Berka, 1887; Lee Helsey, 1889; Louis Berka, 1891 ; Samuel I. Gordon, 1895; Bryce Crawford, 1906; Charles E. Foster, 1912.
City Attorneys-This official was at first called the city solicitor. Charles Grant, 1857; James M. Woolworth, 1857; George I. Gilbert, 1858 (10 record for the next seven years) ; George B. Lake, 1866; B. E. B. Kennedy, 1867; George W. Ambrose, 1868; J. P. Bartlett, 1869; George E. Pritchett, 1873; John M. Thurston, 1874; Charles F. Manderson, 1877; John D. Howe, 1881 ; William J. Connell, 1883; John L. Webster, 1887; A. J. Poppleton, 1889; W. J. Connell, 1891; Harry E. Burnam, 1907; John A. Rine, 1911.
The City Council-Omaha was at first divided into three wards, with the council composed of three members from each ward. At the first election five members were elected for two years and four for one year, after which council- men were elected for two years. Subsequently the city was divided into six wards, with two members from each ward. Still later nine wards were created, with one member from each ward, and for several years there were eight council- men-at-large. Although the records do not show that the custom of electing one- half the members biennially was abandoned, such was evidently the case, as the council for 1858 was composed of entirely new members. The following list of councilmen, given by years, will enable the reader to form some idea of the changes in the make up of that body :
1857-Alfred D. Jones, Taylor G. Goodwill, George C. Bovey, H. H. Visscher, Thomas Davis, William N. Byers, William W. Wyman, Thomas O'Connor, Charles H. Downs. (Mr. Goodwill died and Mr. Jones resigned, John H. Kellom and James Creighton being appointed to the respective vacancies).
1858-John E. Dailey, William W. Keith, Lorin Miller, B. T. C. Morgan, G. W. Wood, Jonas G. Seely, O. P. Ingalls, D. F. Richards, John Campbell, H. M. Judson, Albert S. Clarke, John Richards, O. D. Richardson. (This list shows more than the requisite nine names, owing to resignations and appointments during the year.)
1859-Thomas Davis, William A. Gwyer, Harrison Johnson, A. J. Hanscom, John McCormick, John Ritchie, Joseph Barker, Jr.
1860-G. C. Monell. John R. Meredith, J. G. Megeath, H. Z. Curtis, Edwin Loveland, Moses F. Shinn, Francis Smith.
1861-W. J. Kennedy, Asa Hunt, John R. Porter, J. J. Brown, James K. Ish, Charles P. Birkett.
1862-B. E. B. Kennedy, St. John Goodrich, D. C. Sutphen, Henry Gray, William F. Sapp, Joseph F. Sheely.
1863-Thomas O'Connor, St. John Goodrich, George B. Lake, John Camp- bell, Henry Grebe, John H. Kellom.
1864-Vincent Burkley, George M. Mills, Joseph F. Sheely, L. C. Hunting- ton, John R. Porter, J. B. Allen, William E. Harvey.
1865-Charles H. Brown, Jonas Gise, James B. Callahan, O. P. Ingalls, George Smith.
1866-Charles P. Birkett, A. J. Simpson, O. P. Ingalls, D. F. Richards.
1867-John H. Green, Charles Maguire, John R. Porter, Julius Rudowsky, Henry Bruning, James Creighton, Edwin Patrick, William Jones.
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1868-George W. Doane, Robert C. Jordan, John R. Meredith, N. P. Isaacs, C. L. Gambell, J. C. Ambrose, David T. Mount, John Evans.
1869-Julius Rudowsky, Thomas Davis, George C. Merrill, George W. Homan, J. E. Kelley, David T. Mount, L. C. Richards, J. S. McCormick, George O. Wil- liams, James Creighton, Joseph W. Paddock, S. C. Rose, Jesse H. Lacey.
1870-E. A. Allen, Richard P. Kimball, John A. Horbach, George Smith.
1871-George W. Homan, M. J. McKelligon, James S. Gibson, Henry Lubens, John Campbell, John A. Horbach, Byron Reed, James Creighton, J. P. Bartlett, Thomas Martin.
1872-Thomas Swobe, A. J. Doyle, John M. Thurston, John D. Jones, L. L. Bristol, Henry J. Lucas.
1873-James Stephenson, James S. Gibson, W. J. Hamilton, D. C. Sutphen, A. A. Gibson, W. W. Marsh.
1874-O. C. Campbell, A. McGavock, Charles Bankes, Lewis Brown, H. J. Lucas, M. H. Brown, Isaac W. Miner, Thomas Swobe.
1875-John P. Kelley, Charles J. Karbach, M. Cumings, Charles C. Sperry, William A. Gwyer, Edwin Loveland.
1876-A. McGavock, Edward C. McShane, August Aust, Bernard Shannon, Lewis Brown, C. V. Gallagher, E. V. Smith.
1877-Robert G. Jenkinson, James G. Megeath, Charles Bankes, George H. Boggs, Fred W. Gray, William A. Gwyer, Robert K. Taft.
1878 Isaac S. Hascall, Owen Slaven, Dennin Cunningham, Bernard Shannon, George W. Lininger, Orrin G. Dodge, Joseph Redman.
1879-Charles Kaufman, George F. Labagh, Fritz Riepen, John D. Jones, Levi J. Kennard, Thomas H. Dailey, James Stephenson.
1880-Edward Roddis, Charles A. Thieman, Henry Hornberger, Thomas Blackmore, James E. Boyd, William Dailey.
1881-A. McGavock, M. A. McNamara, Martin Dunham, W. I. Baker, Rich- ard O'Keefe, Fred Dellone, Homer Stull, J. O. Corby, Samuel H. Herman.
1882-C. C. Thrane, Fred Behm, D. L. McGuckin, Martin Dunham, Edward Leeder, W. I. Baker.
1883-William Anderson, Isaac S. Hascall, Charles Kaufman, Charles D. Woodworth, P. F. Murphy, Josiah B. Redfield.
1884-C. C. Thrane, Fred Belim, D. L. McGuckin, Martin Dunham, Edward Leeder, W. I. Baker.
1885-Patrick Ford, W. F. Bechel, John B. Furay, Charles Kaufman, Isaac S. Hascall, P. F. Murphy.
1886-Charles F. Goodman, Michael Lee, Louis Shroeder, Charles S. Goodrich, Thomas H. Dailey, Francis E. Bailey.
1887-Adam Snyder, John F. Boyd, Charles Van Camp, Jacob M. Counsman, Jeff W. Bedford, Leavitt Burnham, T. J. Lowry, Frank S. Kasper, Charles D. Cheney.
1888-William G. Shriver, Daniel H. Wheeler, Edward O'Connor, A. H. Sanders, Edwin P. Davis, Clarence L. Chaffee, F. E. Bailey, Isaac S. Hascall, Patrick Ford.
1889-William F. Bechel, F. L. Blumer, F. D. Cooper, James Donnelly, Sr., B. F. Madsen, John McLearie, Edward F. Moriarty, Theodore Olsen, Henry Ost- hoff.
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1890-Clarence L. Chaffee, Edwin P. Davis, Thomas J. Lowry, Charles E. Bruner, Thomas F. Tuttle, Richard Burdish, Peter Elsasser, Timothy Conway, Christian Specht.
1891-Peter M. Back, William F. Bechel, A. G. Edwards, Edward E. Howell, Halfdan Jacobsen, George F. Munro, John McLearie, Sol Prince, John Steel.
1892-Peter M. Back, William F. Bechel, A. G. Edwards, Edward E. Howell, Halfdan Jacobsen, George F. Munro, Sol Prince, John Steel, Isaac S. Hascall, Peter E. Elsasser, A. B. M. Andrews, Daniel H. Wheeler, William A. Saunders, Christ Specht, Charles L. Thomas, C. E. Bruner, Churchill Parker.
1893-The council this year was the same as in 1892, except Robert H. Holmes succeeded George F. Munro and John Lemly succeeded John Steel.
1894-P. M. Back, William F. Bechel, Frank J. Burkley, Albert Cahn, A. G. Edwards, Robert H. Holmes, Edward E. Howell, Halfdan Jacobsen, John Lemly, Samuel I. Gordon, Anton Kment, Sol Prince, Frank B. Kennard, W. A. Saunders, Charles L. Jaynes, Charles L. Thomas, Cadet Taylor, George W. Mercer.
1895-W. W. Bingham, Robert D. Duncan, Louis Burmeister, Daniel H. Wheeler D. H. Christie, Carr Axford, James Allan, Frank J. Burkley, G. S. Benarva, Isaac S. Hascall (elected to fill a vacancy caused by the election of S. I. Gordon to the police judgeship), Anton Kment, Sol Prince, F. B. Kennard, W. A. Saunders, C. L. Jaynes, C. L. Thomas, Cadet Taylor, George W. Mercer.
1896-W. W. Bingham, R. D. Duncan, Louis Burmeister, D. H. Wheeler, D. H. Christie, Carr Axford, James Allan, F. J. Burkley, G. S. Benarva, Ernest Stuht, Thomas J. Flynn, Richard O'Malley, W. F. Bechel, Alfred J. Lunt, Myron D. Karr, D. T. Mount, T. S. Crocker, George W. Mercer.
1897 -- Ernest Stuht, W. W. Bingham, Louis Burmeister, W. F. Bechel, C. O. Lobeck, Myron D. Karr, D. T. Mount, F. J. Burkley, George W. Mercer. (In 1897 the councilmen-at-large were discontinued and members of the council were elected for three years.)
1900-Isaac S. Hascall, Fred H. Hoye, Harry B. Zimman, William B. White- horn, C. O. Lobeck, M. D. Karr, D. T. Mount, F. J. Burkley, Simon Trostler.
1906-Andrew Hansen, Lee Bridges, Harry B. Zimman, L. B. Johnson, G. F. Brucker, W. S. Sheldon, Alma Jackson, J. C. Davis, Thomas McGovern, P. E. Elsasser, M. F. Funkhouser, J. W. Bedford. (The council elected this year consisted of one member from each of the twelve wards, and continued to 1909.)
1909-Louis Berka, Lee Bridges, Louis Burmeister, L. B. Johnson, G. F. Brucker, W. S. Sheldon, Fred Schroeder, J. B. Hummel, Thomas McGovern, A. C. Kugel, M. F. Funkhouser, C. M. Davis. (The council elected in 1909 continued in office until the adoption of the commission form of government in 1912, when the council was abolished and seven commissioners were elected. Since then the following have served as commissioners) :
1912-James C. Dahlman, Daniel B. Butler, John J. Ryder, Charles H. Withnell, Albert C. Kugel, Thomas McGovern, Joseph B. Hummel.
1915-James C. Dahlman, Daniel B. Butler, Albert C. Kugel, Charles H. Withnell, John J. Ryder, Thomas McGovern, Joseph B. Hummel.
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THE COUNTY ROSTER
Below is given a list of the leading county officials from the organization of the county to the beginning of the year 1916, with the year when each one was elected or entered upon the discharge of his official duties :
Sheriffs-P. G. Peterson, 1855; Cameron Reeves, 1856; John C. Heilman, 1859; Thomas L. Sutton, 1861 ; Andrew Dellone, 1865; Aaron R. Hoel, 1867; Henry Grebe, 1869; Alfred Burley, 1873; George H. Guy, 1879; David N. Miller, 1883; William Coburn, 1885; John F. Boyd, 1889; George Bennett, 1891 ; John C. Drexel, 1893; John W. McDonald, 1895; John Power, 1899; John W. McDonald, 1905; E. F. Brailey, 1907; F. J. McShane, 1911 (reelected in 1913).
Registers of Deeds-Lyman Richardson, 1855; Thomas O'Connor, 1855; ( Mr. O'Connor served until 1867, when the office was merged into that of county clerk, but it was revived in 1887). T. A. Megeath, 1887; Peter E. Elsasser, 1893; Thomas D. Crocker, 1897; Harvey P. Deuel, 1901; Frank W. Bandle, 1905 ; H. A. Pearce, 1913.
County Clerks-Thomas O'Connor, 1856; James E. Boyd, 1857; Charles P. Birkett (acting), 1858; James W. Van Nostrand, 1859; Peter Hugus, 1861 ; Byron Reed, 1863; Frank Murphy, 1866; C. A. Downey, 1868; Thomas Swobe, 1870; William H. Ijams, 1872; Lewis S. Reed, 1874; J. R. Manchester, 1878; John Baumer, 1882; H. T. Leavitt, 1884; Gustave Beneke, 1885; C. P. Needham, 1886; M. D. Roche, 1888; P. J. O'Malley, 1890; Fred J. Sackett, 1892; M. H. Redfield, 1896; David M. Haverly, 1898; Harry C. Miller, 1902; John C. Drexel, 1904; David M. Haverly, 1906; Frank Dewey, 1912.
Clerks of the District Court-Silas A. Strickland, 1855; Joseph W. Paddock, 1856; E. B. Chandler, 1860; John H. Kellom, 1862; William Kellogg, Jr., 1865; George Armstrong, 1867; William H. Ijams, 1876; Frank E. Moores, 1888; Albyn Frank, 1806; Frank A. Broadwell, 1900; Robert Smith, 1908 (still in office ).
Treasurers-Taylor G. Goodwill, 1855; Samuel Moffatt, 1856; George W. Forbes, 1857; A. C. Althaus, 1859; James K. Ish, 1861 ; William J. Hahn, 1867; Edward C. McShane, 1871; A. C. Althaus, 1873; William F. Hines, 1877; John Rush, 1881 ; Henry Bolln, 1885; Adam Snyder, 1889; H. B. Irey, 1891 ; George Heimrod, 1895; G. F. Elsasser, 1899; Robert O. Fink, 1903; Frank A. Furay, 1907; William G. Ure, 1911 (still in office).
Surveyors-Benjamin P. Knight, 1863; B. E. B. Kennedy, 1865; Benjamin P. Knight, 1867; Andrew Rosewater, 1869; George Smith, 1871 ; Charles H. Howes, 1887; J. E. House, 1889; George Smith, 1891; J. E. House, 1893; Winfield S. King, 1895; George McBride, 1897; Peter A. Edquist, 1901 ; Herman Beal, 1905 ; George McBride, 1909; L. E. Adams, 1915.
Coroners-Emerson D. Seymour, 1860; E. Dallow, 1863; J. R. Conkling, 1865; C. H. Pinney, 1867; Jacob Gish, 1869; J. R. Conkling, 1871; Jacob Gish, 1873 ; Joseph Neville, 1877; John G. Jacobs, 1879; W. H. Kent, 1883; John C. Drexel, 1885 ; C. P. Harrigan, 1889; M. O. Maul. 1891 ; Henry K. Burket, 1895; Nels P. Swanson, 1897; Edwin F. Brailey, 1901 ; P. C. Heafey, 1908 (to fill a vacancy) ; Willis A. Crosby, 1909 (still in office).
Superintendents of Instruction-A. A. Seagrave, 1869; Jeremiah Behm, 1871 ; S. D. Beals, 1873; John Rush, 1875; John J. Points, 1877; James B. Bruner,
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OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
1883; A. Mathews, 1889; George W. Hill, 1891; Edwin J. Bodwell, 1895; W. A. Yoder, 1906 (still in office).
County Commissioners-From the organization of the county until 1887, the board of commissioners consisted of three members. In 1887 the number was increased to five. The term of office is for three years, but after the first board not all the commissioners were elected at any one time. The following list gives the names of the commissioners and the year of election: Jesse Lowe, Thomas H. Davis and James H. McArdle, 1855; Sylvanus Dodge and James H. McArdle, 1856; Harrison Johnson and A. J. Critchfield, 1858; J. W. Parker, 1860; O. P. Hurford, 1861; James H. McArdle, 1862; Thomas H. Allison, 1863; St. John Goodrich, 1864; James H. McArdle and Edward M. Chaplin, 1865; James G. Megeath, John M. Kelley, M. C. Wilbur and Haman Chapman, 1866 (Samuel E. Rogers and Charles W. Burt also served for a few months each in 1866, to fill vacancies caused by the resignations of Megeath and Kelley) ; Jonas Gise, 1867; Henry Eicke, 1868; E. H. Sherwood, 1869; M. W. E. Purchase, 1870; James H. McArdle, 1871; Benjamin P. Knight and Thomas Wilkinson, 1872; Josiah B. Redfield, 1873; James H. McArdle, 1874; Benjamin P. Knight, 1875; Fred Drexel, 1876; F. W. Corliss, 1877; Benjamin P. Knight, 1878; Fred Drexel, 1879; F. W. Corliss, 1880; Benjamin P. Knight, 1881; Richard O'Keefe, 1882; F. W. Corliss, 1883; George E. Timme, 1884; Richard O'Keefe, 1885; W. J. Mount, 1886; William R. Turner, Peter Corrigan and Leavitt M. Anderson, 1887; Richard O'Keefe, 1888; Peter J. Corrigan and Richard S. Berlin, 1889; George E. Timme and Charles L. Van Camp, 1890; J. W. Pad- dock, 1891 (to fill vacancy caused by the death of P. J. Corrigan ) ; E. M. Stenberg, I891; J. W. Paddock, 1892; William Sievers and G. R. Williams, 1893; E. M. Stenberg, 1894; William I. Kierstead and Thomas Hoctor, 1895; (J. J. Breen was also elected in 1895 to fill a vacancy) ; Henry E. Ostrom and Peter G. Hofeldt, 1896; A. C. Harte, 1897; James P. Connolly and Thomas Hoctor, 1898; Peter G. Hofeldt, 1899; A. C. Harte, 1900; F. W. Waterman, 1901; Peter G. Hofeldt, 1902; M. J. Kennard, 1903; William G. Ure and Emmet G. Solomon, 1905 ; M. J. Kennard, 1906; Fred Bruning, 1907; Oscar J. Pickard and Jeff W. Bedford, 1908; John A. Scott and John Grant, 1909; George Hauptman and Daniel J. Connell, 1910; Peter E. Elsasser, 1911; Henry McDonald, 1912; Thomas O'Connor and John C. Lynch, 1913; Frank C. Best, 1914. The present board (1916) is composed of Henry S. McDonald, John C. Lynch, Frank C. Best, A. C. Harte and Thomas O'Connor.
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