USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
On the 9th of September, 1884, in Omaha, Mr. Loomis was married to Miss
249
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
Mary L. Waggoner, a daughter of Dr. C. C. Waggoner, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is now deceased. The children of this marriage are: George Waggoner, who died at the age of seven years; Walter Phelps; Gilbert Churchill; Maurice Morton; Margaret, who is a member of the class of 1918 of Wellesley College ; and Mary Louise.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church and in his political belief Mr. Loomis is a republican. He belongs to the Commercial Club and something of the nature of his recreation is indicated in his associaton with the Omaha Gun Club and the Omaha Automobile Club. His business career has been characterized by steady advancement and the steps in his orderly pro- gression are easily discernible. Each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities and the faithful performance of each day's duties has developed in him strength and courage for the labor of the succeeding day. He is now occupying a position of high standing among the leading business men of his adopted city.
JOSEPH BOYD RYAN.
Omaha had scarcely emerged from villagehood when Joseph Boyd Ryan took up his abode within its borders, arriving in 1865 from St. Joseph, Missouri, from which point he and his father had made their way by packet. They came originally from Rochester, New York. Charles Ryan, the father, coming to Omaha, purchased of the father of General Lowe a five acre tract of land at what is now Fortieth and Cuming streets and thereon engaged in farming. He lived on Hamilton avenue, in the old Lowe home, and first engaged in the nursery business, having brought nursery stock with him from Rochester, New York. He built up quite an extensive business as a nurseryman and for twenty years he filled the office of assessor in Omaha. In early manhood he wedded Margaret Boyd, of New York city, and on the 28th of October, 1888, he was called to his final rest. His ancestors fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war.
Their son, Joseph B. Ryan, was born in New York city July 15, 1846, and was therefore a youth of nineteen years when he came with his parents to the west. He had previously graduated from Fordham College at Fordham, New York, and later he returned to Rochester, New York. While there residing he wrote letters for the Washington Post every week under the nom de plume of Teddy O. Trix. He was for some time associated with Smith Benjamin on the Republican and was also connected with the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York. He received appointment to a position in Washington, where for four years he served as special pension examiner. He took up the study of law in the office of Cowin, Manderson & Savage before returning to the east and when he again came to Omaha in 1881 he resumed active connection with journalistic interests, being connected with the editorial department of the Herald under Miller and Richardson, also with the Republican, while later he was with the Bee Publishing Company for some years. In fact he devoted much of his life to editorial work and he wrote much during the strike of the Burlington Railroad. He continued in newspaper work up to the time of his death, which occurred October 21, 1890.
It was Mr. Ryan who delivered the first St. Patrick's day address in Omaha at the old high school. He wrote many addresses for public speakers, wielding a facile pen. In fact he was regarded as one of the foremost newspaper writers in his day in the middle west. His discussion of any vital question was always clear, concise and to the point and the soundness of his opinions drew to his cause many followers. His editorials in both the Sunday and daily papers were eagerly read and did much to shape public thought and action. He was also
250
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
most successful as a news gatherer and he seemed to possess in large measure the journalistic instinct.
In Washington, D. C., in 1877, Mr. Ryan was united in marriage to Miss Kate Gray, of New York city. Her father, James Gray, put the red seal on the paper money in the treasury department at Washington, with which he was connected for twenty-one years, his last days being there spent. While residing in New York he had responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the Twelfth New York Regiment under Colonel Butterfield, and he also served as a volunteer fireman of New York city. To Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were born four children : Kate F., who is now a nurse; Margaret Arabella, assistant superintendent of schools ; Adele B., who is the wife of Wilbur Beahm, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Mary J., who is teaching in Seattle, Washington.
Mrs. Ryan still lives upon part of the old homestead which her father-in-law secured upon coming to Omaha, near Fortieth and Cuming streets. It was then a country district and the Ryan family has lived there for the past fifty years. Since her husband's death Mrs. Ryan has platted the property, which is known as Ryan's addition, and she has been active in conducting real estate operations there. She has seen every president of the United States inaugurated from the time of Lincoln down to the present, save Hayes and Wilson, for she lived in Washington for many years.
Mr. Ryan was a member of the Press Club but otherwise was not active in club circles. His activities and interests brought him into close touch with public affairs, enabling him to keep his finger constantly on the public pulse, and through his editorial writings and in other ways he did much to shape thought and opinion.
WILLIAM H. KOENIG.
William H. Koenig, who was actively connected with the commercial interests of Omaha as a dry goods merchant and member of the firm of Thomas Kilpatrick & Company, was numbered among the native sons of the city who rose to promi- nence by reason of their force of character, business enterprise, and ready recognition of possibilities and opportunities. He was born in this city, May 23, 1863, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 8th of April, 1916. His father, William Koenig, removed from St. Louis to Omaha in 1855, when the site of the present city had upon it but a few dwellings, constituting a little hamlet upon the western frontier. He afterward returned to St. Louis, where he was married in 1861 to Eleanor Beecher. Henry Pundt came with him to Omaha and together they engaged in the grocery business until the death of Mr. Koenig, which occurred on the 19th of October, 1863. For a long time the store of Pundt & Koenig was one of the landmarks of the city, their location being at Thirteenth and Farnam streets.
William H. Koenig pursued his early education in the schools of Omaha and afterward entered the schools of St. Louis, to which city he went when eleven years of age. He and his mother afterward went to Europe, where they lived until he was nineteen years of age, that period being spent by him in school in Dresden. Returning to his native land, he was for seven years a resident of New York, during which period he traveled on the road as the representative of a wholesale house for a time. He then again came to Omaha and erected a house at Nineteenth and Davenport streets. He also became associated with the business management of the Omaha Bee and afterward entered the field of banking as a representative of the Omaha National Bank. Further extending his efforts in business circles by the purchase of an interest in the Thomas Kilpatrick Dry Goods Company, he thus became one of the organizers of the Kilpatrick-Koch Dry Goods Company, wholesale dealers in dry goods. Later they bought out the
WILLIAM H. KOENIG
253
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
Faulkner stock and later abandoned the wholesale branch of the business, con- centrating their energies upon the further development of their retail store, which they carried on under the name of Thomas Kilpatrick & Company up to the time of the death of Mr. Koenig. He possessed keen insight and discrimination and his initiative spirit brought him to a creditable and prominent position in com- mercial circles.
In St. Louis, in 1892, Mr. Koenig was united in marriage to Miss Elsa Kolben- heyer, a daughter of Dr. Frederick Kolbenheyer, of that city. The two children born of this marriage are Frederick William and Gertrude A. E., both residents of Omaha.
Mr. Koenig attended the Lutheran church, of which he served as treasurer. He belonged to the Omaha Club, the Field Club and the Commercial Club and was preeminently a home man, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and at one time he served as a member of the school board, but he did not seek nor desire official prefer- ment. He was, however, a most public-spirited man, interested in everything that pertained to the welfare of his native city, its progress and upbuilding. He became one of the organizers of the Sons of Omaha, a society formed of native citizens. Those who knew him found him a most congenial companion. He was a man of broad and liberal culture, well descended and well bred, always courteous, kindly and considerate, and thus it was that the circle of his friends was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
CLARENCE JOHN CANAN.
Clarence John Canan, a real estate dealer of Omaha, was born in St. Clair, Michigan, January 10, 1851, and is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, the line being traced back through several generations to John Canan, who was born in the north of Ireland in 1746. He came to the new world prior to the Revolu- tionary war and served in the struggle for independence, in which he rose to the rank of captain, taking active part in winning American liberty. His son, John Canan II, was the grandfather of Clarence J. Canan and the father of John Canan III, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, and who in early manhood was married in St. Clair, Michigan, to Sarah Von Ostrander, a native of Pennsylvania. They spent the entire period of their married life in Michigan and Mr. Canan became a very wealthy and prominent lumberman of St. Clair but suffered heavy losses during the widespread financial panic of 1873. He died in the year 1891.
In the schools of his native city Clarence J. Canan pursued his early education and afterward attended Olivet College in Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1872. On leaving home he came to Omaha in 1874, at which time he possessed a cash capital of a dollar and a half. His limited financial resources rendered it imperative that he obtain immediate employment and for two years he clerked in a dry goods store. In 1879 he engaged in the merchant tailoring business on his own account and so continued actively until 1893. On retiring from that business he turned his attention to the real estate and fire insurance business, in which he has since been engaged. He handles much important property and writes a large amount of insurance annually. He has a wide acquaintance and his enterprising methods have placed him in the front rank in his chosen field of activity.
On the 10th of August, 1881, at Pontiac, Michigan, Mr. Canan was united in marriage to Miss Elma L. Voorheis, by whom he has three children, namely : Jennie I .; Howard G., who is in West Point Military Academy, class of 1920; and Dorothy. The family attend the Episcopal church and Mr. Canan belongs to the Carter Lake Club. His political endorsement is given to the democratic
254
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
party but his activities are confined largely to the exercise of his right of franchise, as he prefers to concentrate his engeries upon his business affairs, which in their constant development have made him one of the foremost figures in real estate circles in Omaha.
JAMES HENRY CRADDOCK.
James Henry Craddock, an architect of Omaha since 1904 and now actively and prominently connected with the improvement of the city through its building operations, was born at Mystic River, Connecticut, in 1856. His father, Nicholas Craddock, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Connecticut. At Mystic River he married Miss Ellen Purtel and both passed away in Connecticut, the death of the father occurring in 1878.
In the schools of Mystic River and in the Mystic River Institute, James H. Craddock pursued his education. The year 1885 witnessed his arrival in Nebraska, locating at Lincoln, where he began business as an architect. He also maintained an office in Omaha and in 1904, disposing of his business in Lincoln, he established his home in Omaha, where he has since practiced his profession. He is thoroughly conversant with every department of the work and the beauty and utility of his plans are manifest in some of the fine buildings of the city and state.
In Omaha, in 1904, Mr. Craddock was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Sebring and they have become the parents of two children, Ellen C. and James H. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Craddock is identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and in 1917 he was representative in the general assembly from Douglas county. The greater part of his time, thought and purpose, however, are directed to his profession and in his chosen calling he has made continuous advancement.
GEORGE C. JOHNSON.
George C. Johnson, a well known Omaha grain merchant who in 1913 organ- ized the Iowa Elevator Company, of which he is the president, was born in Denmark, September 28, 1861. His father, Marinus Johnson, also a native of Denmark, served with the Danish army in 1864 in the war with Germany. Ere leaving his native country he wedded Miss Katharine Larsen and in 1870 they came with their family to the United States, establishing their home upon a farm in Iroquois county, Illinois. Throughout the period of his residence in this country the father followed agricultural pursuits and passed away in Kankakee, Illinois, in 1908, having for two years survived his wife, who died in 1906.
George C. Johnson, a lad of nine years when brought to the new world, largely acquired his education in the public schools of Chebanse, Illinois, and also attended the Valparaiso (Ind.) College, in which he pursued a commercial course. He was at the time twenty years of age. For three years he was employed in a retail implement house in Kankakee, Illinois, after which he spent eight years upon the road as a traveling salesman, representing an implement manufacturing house of Sandwich, Illinois. During that time he spent eight months in Buenos Aires as representative for the firm. In 1889 he embarked in the retail hardware business at Newman Grove, Nebraska, where he remained for seventeen years, building up a business of large and profitable proportions. He turned his attention to banking in 1892 as cashier of the Citizens State Bank, now the First National Bank of Newman Grove, where he remained for seven years. In 1899 he with-
JAMES H. CRADDOCK
257
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
drew from active connection with the bank and entered the grain and lumber business, remaining at Newman Grove until 1906, when he came to Omaha and has since been a factor in the business circles of this city. At first he was treasurer of the Nye-Schneider-Fowler Grain Company, with which he continued for two years, when he removed to Nebraska City and spent two years as vice president of the Duff Grain Company. In 1911 he returned to Omaha and for two years was connected with the Crowell Elevator Company but on the Ist of May, 1913, organized the Iowa Elevator Company and has since been the directing head of the enterprise as its president. Under his able management the business of the company has steadily increased and broadened and has now assumed extensive proportions.
Mr. Johnson has been twice married. On the 19th of October, 1892, in Omaha, he wedded Miss Anna Ostergard, who passed away October 31, 1914. leaving two children : Helen D., who was born in 1895; and Walter O., whose birth occurred in 1898. On the 11th of April, 1916, in Fremont Nebraska, Mr. Johnson was again married, his second union being with Josephine Srack, née Christensen.
Mr. Johnson attends the Congregational church and formerly he was identified with the Masons and with the Odd Fellows but has been demitted from both organizations. He belongs to the Commercial Club, thus cooperating in activities for the benefit and upbuilding of the city, and he also has membership in the Happy Hollow Club. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He is spoken of as a clean-cut, square business man who stands high in commercial circles, whose word is thoroughly reliable and whose methods are most enterprising and commendable. His salient qualities have won him many friends.
GEORGE AKIN ECKLES.
George Akin Eckles, lawyer and real estate dealer of Omaha, was born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, in 1850 and is of Irish lineage. His great-grandfather in the paternal line was Arthur Eckles, who came to the United States in 1775 from County Down, Ireland, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His son, John Eckles, lived for many years in Pennsylvania and in Indiana and it was in the former state that his son, Joseph H. Eckles, father of George Akin Eckles, was born in the year 1818. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in Pennsylvania to Margaret Patton and in 1854 they removed westward to Indiana, settling first at Logansport, while a few years later they became residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Following the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south Joseph H. Eckles aided in recruiting the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for service in the Civil war and with that regiment went to the front as major. He was killed in a minor engagement in 1862 follow- ing the battle of Shiloh.
At Fort Wayne, Indiana, George .A. Eckles attended the public schools and afterward became a student in an academy at Newville, Indiana, from which he was graduated. The year 1868 witnessed his arrival in Nebraska, at which time he settled in Merrick county, where he lived for six years. He then took up his abode upon a stock ranch in Holt county, Nebraska, where he resided for three and a half years, and on the expiration of that period he went to Neligh, Nebraska, where he studied law with the Hon. J. H. Gurney, subsequently entering into partnership with his preceptor, which relation was maintained for three years. Mr. Eckles then removed to Chadron, Nebraska, where he remained in active law practice until 1907. In the latter year he came to Omaha and has since practically retired from the active work of the profession, acting now only as consulting counsel. He concentrates his attention and energies largely upon
258
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
the real estate business and has handled some valuable property in this city. While living in Chadron he filled the offices of city and county attorney. He was also largely instrumental in the establishment of the Chadron Academy in 1887 and in its restoration when it was destroyed by fire in 1892. He was secretary and trustee of the academy from its establishment until he removed to Omaha, when he resigned the office. He was also postmaster at Chadron for eight and a half years, retiring from that position in 1907, when he removed to this city.
In early manhood, in Allen county, Indiana, Mr. Eckles was married and has two children : Cleoa G., the wife of Charles HI. Kelsey, of Norfolk, Nebraska, by whom she has two children, Alpha and Hadley ; and Joseph Paul, who was born in 1880 and is a graduate of the Nebraska State University. He is a building contractor, carrying on business in Omaha. In 1909 he married Augusta Walters and they have three children, Pauline, Thelma and George. Following the death of his first wife Mr. Eckles married again.
He is a Congregationalist in religious faith and something of the nature of his recreation is indicated in the fact that he belongs to the Elmwood Park Golf Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a stalwart supporter of its principles. He made an excellent record in public office while in Chadron but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His thought and purpose have rather been concentrated upon his business affairs and the discharge of his public duties as a private citizen, and the careful management of his interests has brought to him a substantial measure of success, especially in the real estate field.
BENJAMIN B. BARKALOW.
Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, Benjamin B. Barkalow came to Omaha in 1856, at which time he found a small town on the western frontier. He did not take up his permanent abode here at that period although he remained for two years, but in the '6os he returned and continued his residence here until his death. Those who know aught of the carly history of the city recognize the fact that he contributed in substantial measure to its early develop- ment and improvement and aided in laying the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of the city. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, October 13, 1819, a son of Zebulon and Amy (Vail) Barkalow. On arriving at years of maturity he wedded Margaret Denise, the wedding being celebrated June 19, 1842, at Carlisle, Ohio. Mrs. Barkalow was born March 27, 1818, a daughter of Sidney and Ann (Conover) Denise. Mr. and Mrs. Barkalow came of Holland Dutch and French lineage and their ancestors figured prominently in connection with the colonial history of this country and with the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Barkalow were born seven children: Derrick Vail, deceased ; Sidney Denise, deceased; Newton Evans, of Denver, Colorado; Anna Denise, who has now passed away; Daisy Bell, who became the wife of Ben B. Wood; Moses Wilbur, of San Francisco; and Benjamin, who died in infancy.
During the period of his early manhood Benjamin B. Barkalow became prom- inently connected with business interests in Ohio. He owned canal boats, ware- houses and a lumberyard on the Miami canal and his interests became extensive and important, connecting him in large measure with the business development of the district in which he operated. The reports which he heard concerning Omaha and the opportunities of the west led him to remove to Nebraska in 1856 and on the 6th of November of that year he reached Omaha, where he established a banking business and real estate office. Two years later he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and afterward became· a resident of Burlington, Iowa, but in the '6os returned to Omaha, where he remained until his life's labors were ended
259
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
in death in September, 1864. His widow long survived him, passing away on the 6th of November, 1898. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barkalow assisted in organizing the Presbyterian church of Omaha and although his residence in that city covered a comparatively brief period he was actively associated with enterprises and projects which led to the material and moral progress of the community. He foresaw the possibilities of the town and worked for its development and upbuilding in various ways and his labors constituted a motive power in bringing about later development and progress.
GUY CAMERON MCKENZIE.
Guy Cameron McKenzie, president of the Corey-Mckenzie Printing Company, was born in Omaha on the 19th of August, 1876, and comes of Scotch lineage, his grandfather being George Mckenzie, a native of Scotland, who, however, spent his last days in Omaha. George Mckenzie, Jr., father of Guy C. Mckenzie, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and accompanied his parents to the United States when a youth of fourteen years, the family home being established at Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. In Desoto, Nebraska, he married Eleanore Maxfield and in 1866 they removed to Omaha. Throughout his active life the father engaged in farming. He passed away in March, 1914, having for a con- siderable period survived his wife, who died in 1898. Of the Presbyterian church they were consistent and faithful members.
Reared in his native city, Guy C. Mckenzie pursued his education in the public schools of Omaha and then became connected with a weekly paper of this city, which constituted his preliminary step in connection with the business in which he is still engaged. In December, 1907, the firm of Corey & Mckenzie, which had previously been established, was incorporated as the Corey-Mckenzie Printing Company, with Mr. Mckenzie as the president, and as the head of this company he is directing its interests and broadening the scope of the business.
On the 26th of October, 1911, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mr. Mckenzie was united in marriage to Miss Esther E. Holton, daughter of Nicholas Holton. They have two children, Ruth Caroline and Esther Eleanore. The parents attend the Lutheran church and Mr. Mckenzie gives his political endorsement to the republican party. He is well known in Masonic circles as a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, also of Mount Calvary Commandery, No. I, K. T., and of Tangier Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He likewise belongs to the Rotary Club and these associations, as well as his business connections, have brought him a wide acquaintance, while the sterling worth of his character has established him in the high regard of his many friends.
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.