USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 14
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On the 29th of December, 1914, Dr. Barr wedded Miss Adelaide Davis. He has no fraternal nor club connections, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his practice, and he is keeping in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and investigation through his membership in the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society and the Nebraska State Medical Association.
JOSEPH BEN ROBINSON.
Joseph Ben Robinson, for eighteen years actively connected with the real estate and insurance business in Omaha, was born in Russia, April 15, 1868, a son of Moses Robinson who passed away in Russia. The mother came to the United States in 1895, making her way to Omaha where she now resides.
In the schools of his native country Joseph Ben Robinson pursued his edu- cation, and in 1892 when a young man of twenty-four years came to the new world, attracted by the opportunities which he believed might be secured on this side the Atlantic. He came at once to Omaha, owing to the fact that his brother, Samuel L., had previously taken up his abode in this city, where he still resides. The start of Joseph B. Robinson in the business world was a humble one. He began selling dry goods from a pack in Douglas county, and was thus engaged for three and one-half years. Prompted by a laudable ambition he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him
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sufficient capital to enable him to open a store, at which time he began retailing groceries in Omaha. In that line he successfully continued until January, 1899, when he embarked in the real estate business and also began writing fire insurance. In the intervening period he has negotiated many important real estate transfers and is thoroughly informed concerning property values in Omaha. His business has now assumed extensive proportions and his large clientage is winning for him gratifying success.
In 1900 in Omaha, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Esther Wolf and they have a daughter, Helen Bertha, and a son, Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson hold membership in the Jewish church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He also belongs to the real estate exchange and cooperates in every movement that tends more fully to standardize the real estate business. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, and something of his intelli- gently directed activity is indicated in the fact that while he came to America empty handed he is today one of the substantial citizens of Omaha.
FRANCIS ALBERT BROGAN.
Francis Albert Brogan, for more than a quarter of a century an active mem- ber of the Omaha bar and well versed in every branch of jurisprudence, was born in Dewitt, Iowa, December 6, 1860. He is a grandson of Thomas Brogan, who served under Wellington at the battle of Waterloo and in the year 1838 came to the United States, passing away in Dewitt, lowa, about 1850. Throughout his active business life he engaged in linen weaving. His son, Francis Brogan, who was born at Lifford, Ireland, in 1822, accompanied his parents to the new world when a youth of sixteen years and became a resident of West Chester, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until his removal to Dewitt, Iowa, some time afterward. He followed the occupation of farming in support of his family. In early man- hood he wedded Ann Cummins, who is now a resident of Omaha, but Mr. Brogan passed away in the year 1905.
Their son, Francis A. Brogan, spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native city, during which period he attended the public schools, and between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years he was a public school pupil in Hartford, Kansas. He afterward entered St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, and in 1880 matriculated in Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., where he was graduated with the class of 1883. He made preparation for the bar as a student in the Harvard Law School, where he completed his course by graduation in 1885.
Mr. Brogan then located for practice at Emporia, Kansas, and for three years was connected with the law department of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. Since 1888 he has resided continuously in Omaha, devot- ing his attention throughout the greater part of that period to the private practice of law, yet his interest in questions of general moment has led to his active and helpful connection with various movements of public importance. In 1891 he was nominated on the democratic ticket for the position of regent of the State Uni- versity but declined to become a candidate. Opposing the democratic party on its financial policy, he became chairman of the Business Men's Sound Money League in 1896 and took part in the national campaign of that year. In 1914 he was a candidate for chief justice of the state on a non-partisn ticket. He is ever well versed on the questions and issues of the day but the honors and emolu- ments of office have little allurement for him. From the beginning of his resi- dence in Omaha he has enjoyed a large general practice, for which he is splendidly qualified, having comprehensive knowledge of the principles of law, while in the preparation of his cases he is most thorough and painstaking. In 1910 he was
FRANCIS A. BROGAN
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appointed general attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company in the state of Nebraska and occupied that position until 1912, when he resigned in order to concentrate his attention upon his general law practice and his clientage is today extensive and important. For many years he has been the Nebraska attorney for the Western Union Telegraph Company.
On the 17th of October, 1888, in Emporia, Kansas, Mr. Brogan was united in marriage to Miss Maude Haskell Perley and they have become parents of two sons : Albert Perley, who was born in 1889 and is now professor of philosophy in the State University of Texas at Austin; and Maurice Perley, born in 1896.
Mr. Brogan belongs to the Commercial Club and the Omaha Club and is a charter member of the Omaha Country Club and the University Club, and in all of these he has filled the position of director. He was president of the Omaha Bar Association in 1905 and president of the Nebraska Bar Association in 1909. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and served on its general council, representing Nebraska, in 1909. He is now a member of the Omaha school board for the years 1917 and 1918. Alert, his mind readily grasps the salient features not only of his law cases but of public questions and it is well known that his influence will ever be found on the side of progress for the individual and for the community.
WILLIAM CRITES RAMSEY.
William Crites Ramsey, a member of the Omalia bar since 1910, his connection therewith being marked by steady progress; in a calling wherein advance- ment depends entirely upon individual merit and ability, was born in Platts- mouth, Nebraska, June 30, 1884. His father, Basil Swearingen Ramsey, is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, born July 4, 1844, and was a young man of twenty years when on the 4th of August, 1864, he arrived in Nebraska, settling on a farm in Cass county. While there residing he filled the office of county commissioner and for three terms was county judge of Cass county, while for one term he occupied the bench of the second judicial district of Nebraska, but after long and prominent connection with the law both as a prac- titioner before the courts and upon the bench he has now retired. On the 25th of December, 1882, in Columbus, Nebraska, he wedded Mary Elizabeth Crites, a native of Walworth county, Wisconsin, and both are still residents of Plattsmouth.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, William C. Ramsey mastered the branches of learning which constituted the curriculum of the Platts- mouth schools and then entered the University of Nebraska, where he spent six years in the academic course and in the study of law, being graduated in 1907 with the degrees of A. B. and LL. B. In June of that year he was admitted to practice before the courts of the state and for three years followed his profes- sion in Plattsmouth, after which he removed to Omaha in 1910, seeking the broader field of labor offered in the larger city. Here he has since remained and has attained a position which many an older representative of the profession might well envy. Aside from his law practice he is president of the Norfolk Investment Company of Omaha.
On the 2d of May, 1911, in Beatrice, Nebraska, Mr. Ramsey was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Elizabeth Cook, a daughter of the late Daniel W. Cook, president of the Beatrice National Bank. They have two sons, William Crites, Jr., and Daniel Cook Ramsey. The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Ramsey is a well known member of the University and Happy Hollow Clubs. He also belongs to the Commercial Club and he is a Master Mason. His military record covers service as captain of Company F of the Second Nebraska National Guard in 1906 and 1907, while he was attending the
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State University. In politics he is a democrat and is the present deputy county attorney of Douglas county. He is winning a creditable place in his profession by hard work and by evidencing his ability to fill the official position to which he has been appointed.
CHARLES EDWARD FANNING.
In the field of street paving operations Charles Edward Fanning was a pioneer and instituted many of the methods which are still factors in that kind of work. Moreover, in the thirty-five years of his connection with Omaha he has kept in touch with the trend of modern progress in his field and all of the time has been in the vanguard of those who are seeking improved methods resulting in dura- bility of work. Another point in his career which is never questioned by those who know aught of his history is that throughout his entire association with the business interests of Omaha he has been thoroughly reliable-a man who stands four-square to every wind that blows. He was born in Washington, D. C., Sep- tember 27, 1853. His father, William H. Fanning, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1827, and in Alexandria, Virginia, he wedded Wilhelmina Warren. He became a merchant of the national capital and there maintained his residence for long period but passed away in 1864, having for three years survived his wife, who died in 1861. The Fanning family is of Irish lineage, tracing its ances- try back to Edmond Fanning, who came from the Emerald isle in 1654 and set- tled on Fishers Island.
In the schools of Washington, D. C., Charles E. Fanning began his education and afterward spent one year as a student in Georgetown College in the District of Columbia and three years in Calvert College at New Windsor, Maryland. He then returned to Washington and for three years read law in the office of Wil- liam H. Browne but was not admitted to practice, for his attention was directed in other channels and since 1876 he has been continuously connected with the contracting business. It was in that year that he entered the employ of the Bart- lett & Williams Contracting Company, with whom he remained until 1880, when he became associated with A. L. Barbour, who became the promoter of the well known Barbour Paving & Asphalt Company that has operated so extensively in various sections of the country. It was in the year 1882 that Mr. Fanning arrived in Omaha and throughout all the intervening period he has been closely and prominently associated with paving interests in this city. In that year the Barbour company secured the contract for laying the first strip of paving in Omaha on what is now known as Douglas street, and he has since continued active in this line, ranking throughout the entire period as the foremost street paving contractor of this part of the country. He has executed extensive and important projects, many of which run up into many thousands of dollars. He employs from seventy- five to one hundred men and thus distributes in wages about one thousand dol- lars each week during paving operations. He has ever encouraged his men to become home owners and has been quick to recognize industry and fidelity on the part of employes and reward it to the extent of his ability. He also has another important business connection, being president and owner of the Omaha Auto Supply Company, now one of the important commercial enterprises of the city.
Mr. Fanning has been twice married. In 1874 he wedded Mary Gray, who passed away on the Ist of March, 1911, leaving two daughters: Ada A., who is the wife of Louis Borshine; and Margaret, the wife of George Atkin. On the 15th of January, 1913, Mr. Fanning was again married, his second union being with Miss Margaret Flanagan. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Fanning also has membership with the Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the Carter Lake Club and other organizations, while of the
CHARLES E. FANNING
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Athletic Club of Omaha he is a life member. His interest in the city's welfare is demonstrated by the fact that he is for everything that tends to the upbuilding and advancement of Omaha. In politics he is a democrat but had never held public office until appointed postmaster of his city in 1916. He has, however, for many years been recognized as a most potent leader in democratic circles in Omaha, standing firmly in support of the party and its principles, and, more- over, he enjoys the reputation of having at all times in his political and municipal activity "played the game square." His integrity has never been called into question and he believes in the free expression of opinion. He has been a keen student of municipal affairs and a most interested observer and participant in every movement that tends to advance the interests of the city, working for higher standards of municipal life along those lines which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
EDWARD FRANCIS MOREARTY.
Edward Francis Morearty, a representative of the Omaha bar, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, August 11, 1860. His father, Thomas Morearty, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1821 and came to the United States in 1846. He preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land fifteen miles from St. Paul, Minnesota, but had to give it up on account of the wolves, which were plentiful in that district. He afterward removed to Brattleboro, Vermont, and for three years was superintendent of railroad construction there. He next established his home in Athens, Ohio, and was engaged in the building of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at that point until 1858, when he took up work on the East Ten- nessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad, making his headquarters at Knoxville, Tennessee. There he resided until 1871 and the following year passed away while visiting at his old home in County Kerry, Ireland.
The schools of Knoxville largely afforded Edward F. Morearty his educa- tional privileges. He accompanied his parents on their removal to County Kerry when a youth of twelve years and in 1875 was graduated from the Christian Brothers College at Dingle, in County Kerry. In 1875 he and the other four chil- dren of the family accompanied their mother upon her return to the United States, the family home being established in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he attended a preparatory school. Later a removal was made to Knoxville, Ten- nessee, and Edward F. Morearty occupied the position of paymaster with his uncle, John Long, who had a contract in connection with the construction of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. In January, 1880, he came to Omaha and for four years thereafter was connected with the Union Pacific Railroad in various capacities. In 1884 he accepted the position of editor and manager of the Nebraska Watchman, a weekly paper, with which he was connected until 1886, when he sold his interest in that publication and turned his attention to the real estate business. While engaged in negotiating property transfers he devoted his leisure time to the study of law and in January, 1890, was admitted to the bar, since which time he has continuously engaged in practice, covering a period of twenty-seven years. He has proven capable of conducting important litiga- tion and solving complex legal problems and it is characteristic of him that he carefully prepares his cases and presents his cause before the courts with clear- ness and force.
On the 13th of May, 1884, in Omaha, Mr. Morearty was united in marriage to Miss Susan J. Lynch, a native of this city and a daughter of the late James Lynch. Their children are May, George H., Irvin F., Viola, Edward F., Susan H., Charles B. and Milton R.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Morearty belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Red Men and the Loyal
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Order of Moose. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and upon its ticket he has been elected to several local offices. In January, 1888, he became clerk of the county court of Douglas county and so served until July, 1890. In 1889 he was elected a member of the city council and as councilman at large gave earnest consideration to the settlement of important problems of municipal welfare. In his business career his progress lias been continuous and cach forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportuni- ties until today he occupies an enviable position in professional circles.
HON. RICHARD SCOTT HORTON.
Hon. Richard Scott Horton, practicing at the bar of Omaha, is prominently connected with a profession that has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any community and throughout his entire connection with the bar he has held to high professional standards. Since 1894 he has made his home in Omaha but Ohio claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Glen- dale on the 21st of February, 1866. The Horton family is of English lineage and the first American ancestor settled in New York. The paternal grand- father became a foundryman of Cincinnati, where he conducted business for many years. His son, Benjamin J. Horton, was born in that city in 1833 and pursued his collegiate course at Yale, where he was graduated with the class of 1854. He later studied in the Cambridge Law School, a department of Harvard Uni- versity, after which he located for the practice of law in Lawrence, Kansas, where he successfully followed his profession to the time of his demise. When the Civil war was in progress he enlisted for service at the front, becoming a captain in the Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Stone River he was wounded, his injuries necessitating the amputation of a leg, so that he was unfit for further field service. For two years after the war he served as clerk of the common pleas court in Hamilton county, Ohio, and following his removal to Lawrence, Kansas, he occupied the position of probate judge for one term. His death occurred January 13, 1915, while his widow still remains a resi- dent of Kansas. She bore the maiden name of Virginia Yateman and is a native of Virginia.
Richard S. Horton was a little lad of but four years when the family home was established in Lawrence, Kansas, where he attended the public schools until graduated from the high school. His more specifically literary course was pur- sued in the University of Kansas, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1887. He prepared for his profession in the Cincinnati Law School and won his LL. B. degree in 1889. He also supple- mented his course there by reading law in the offices of Taft & Lloyd of Cin- cinnati, the senior partner being Judge Alphonso Taft, father of ex-President W. H. Taft. Returning to Lawrence, Kansas, Mr. Horton there entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in 1890, remaining an active member of the bar there for four years. In 1894 he came to Omaha, where he has since engaged in general practice, his clientage being now of a large and distinctively represen- tative character. He has figured in connection with some of the most important litigation tried in the courts of the district, working his way upward by ability and gaining his reputation and success by merit. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court, and he seems to possess a natural discrimination as to legal ethics.
On the 20th of March, 1896, Mr. Horton was married in Kansas City, Mis- souri, to Miss Evelyn Harrison, a daughter of Henry Harrison, and their chil- dren are Evelyn and Jane. Mr. Horton belongs to the Elks lodge. His military record covers service as a member of the Usher Guards, a state militia company, at Lawrence, Kansas. His political allegiance is unfalteringly given to the
HON. RICHARD S. HORTON
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democratic party and in 1910 he was elected a member of the Nebraska state senate, in which he served for one term. On the Sth of July, 1915, he was appointed public defender for Douglas county by Governor Morehead. He was elected for a four year term at the general election in November, 1916, and is the present incumbent in that position. Nature endowed him with keen intel- lectuality, to which he has added the embellishments of broad culture. His pop- ularity rests upon personal worth and geniality as well as upon his professional ability, and his numerous friends speak of him in terms of the highest regard.
WILLIAM McADAM.
William McAdam is actively identified with the commercial interests of Omaha as manager of the United States Rubber Company, Omaha Branch, into which connection he entered in October, 1915, although he had long been previously associated with the rubber trade, so that broad experience well qualified him for his duties as manager. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1875, a son of James McAdam, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born in 1834. James McAdam came to the United States in 1853 and settled at Detroit, Michi- gan, where for many years he was actively engaged in business. In that city he wedded Jean Mccutcheon, a native of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, and both have now passed away, the father having died in Detroit in 1903, while the mother's death occurred in that city in 1914.
Spending his youthful days in his parents' home, William McAdam attended the public schools of Detroit and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1897. He has been continuously connected with the rubber trade since 1905, when he entered the employ of the Duck Brand Company at Chicago, dealers in rubber goods, remaining in that association for eight years or until 1913, when he came to Omaha as president of the Interstate Rubber Company. He continued at the head of that business until October, 1915, when he with- drew to enter into his present connection with the Omaha Rubber Company, now the United States Rubber Company, Omaha Branch, of which he has been the president and is now manager. His long experience in connection with the manufacture and sale of rubber goods has enabled him to develop this business to large and profitable proportions.
On the Sth of September, 1907, in Chicago, Mr. McAdam was joined in wedlock . to Miss Mary Elizabeth Killeen, her father being the late John Killeen, who was a soldier of the Confederate army. In his political views Mr. McAdam is a republican and in club circles he is active, belonging to the Commercial Club, the Rotary Club, and the Happy Hollow Club and the Athletic Club of Omaha. Some one said of him, "His nature stands the test of long acquaintance." In a word, he has many substantial qualities and enjoys the friendship and high regard of those with whom he is associated.
COLONEL B. WOOD JEWELL.
Colonel B. Wood Jewell, sovereign adviser of the Woodmen of the World and well known in Omaha, was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1847, a son of the Rev. Henry and Celia (Barker) Jewell, who were married in Massachu- setts. The father was a native of Maine, his birth having occurred in South Litchfield in 1812.
Colonel Jewell acquired his education in the schools of Lynn and Canton, Massachusetts, and in 1862, when a youth of fifteen years, enlisted at Lynn as a private of Company F, First Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, for service
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in the Civil war, remaining at the front until May, 1864, when he was mustered out at Boston, Massachusetts. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment engaged after he joined it and was slightly wounded at Fredericks- burg and again in the Battle of the Wilderness. He likewise participated in the sanguinary conflict at Gettysburg and was with the troops that repelled Pickett's famous charge.
After retiring from the army Colonel Jewell went to Washington, D. C., and obtained a position in the treasury department under Salmon P. Chase, sec- retary of the treasury, there remaining for a year and a half. On the expira- tion of that period he removed to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he continued for two years, during which time he served as express messenger on the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. He afterward removed to Manchester, Iowa, where he was employed in the postoffice for several years and also became con- nected with the Manchester Press, a weekly paper of which he acted as local editor. In 1883 he became deputy head consul for the Modern Woodmen of America under Head Consul J. C. Root and in June, 1890, came to Omaha with Mr. Root, assisting him in founding the great order of the Woodmen of the World, of which he was elected sovereign clerk. Owing to a railroad accident in November, 1890, Colonel Jewell was obliged to go to Florida to recuperate but in the spring of 1891 returned to Omaha and accepted the office of sovereign sentry and chairman of the sovereign finance committee of the Woodmen of the World. About 1899 he was elected sovereign watchman of the order and so continued until February, 1914, when he was appointed by Sovereign Com- mander W. A. Fraser as sovereign adviser of the Woodmen of the World, an office next to the presidency. At the meeting of the sovereign camp at St. Paul, Minnesota, in July, 1915, he was unanimously elected to the same posi- tion for four years, and his record is notable owing to the fact that to every office in which he has served he has been unanimously elected.
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