USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
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On the 29th of June, 1859, at Keosauqua, Iowa, Mr. Rustin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wilkins, born in Ohio, who went to Iowa in 1846. Her father, Daniel Putnam Wilkins, was one of the early attorneys of Ohio and he passed away in that state when a comparatively young man. Mr. and Mrs. Rustin became the parents of five children, a daughter and four sons, of whom Claire, the wife of James H. McIntosh, of New York city, survives.
The death of the husband and father occurred July 18, 1900, when he was sixty-four years of age, following a residence of more than a third of a century in Omaha. He was a loyal and progressive citizen and the democratic party, to which he gave his support, elected him to the office of state senator. He gave careful consideration to all the varied questions which came up for settlement and never hesitated to stanchly support a measure in the justice of which he believed. His life commended him to the confidence and goodwill of all, and although nearly two decades have come and gone since he passed away, those who knew him yet cherish his memory, while the part which he played in the develop- ment of this section of the state will not soon be forgotten.
HENRY ATKINSON HOLDREGE. ١
Henry Atkinson Holdrege, general manager of the Omaha Electric Light & Power Company, in which position he is bending his energies to administrative direction and executive control of one of the leading corporate interests of the city, has throughout his entire business career made wise use of his time, talents and opportunities and each forward step has brought to him a broader outlook. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1873, a son of George W. Holdrege, who is general manager of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company with headquarters at Omaha and who is represented elsewhere in this work.
The establishment of the family home in Omaha during the early boyhood of Henry A. Holdrege led to his becoming a public school pupil here and for advanced training he returned to his native city, entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. His excellent work and high scholarship in that institution are indicated in the fact that he was retained there as a teacher in the laboratory for a year. He then went to Chicago and from 1896 until 1903 was with the Chicago Telephone Company, in which connection his increasing powers and trustworthi- ness led to his advance until he was occupying the position of district manager
HENRY A. HOLDREGE
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when he resigned. In 1903 he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, as manager of the Citizens Gas & Electric Company and on the Ist of January, 1904, was transferred to the Omaha Electric Light & Power Company as general manager. This position of large responsibility he is now filling and under his control the business has been thoroughly systematized and so developed that maximum results are achieved with a minimum expenditure of time, labor and material. He is now one of the directors of the company, also of the Citizens Gas & Electric Company of Council Bluffs, and is the president of the Hoeschen Manufacturing Company of Omaha.
At Belmont, Massachusetts, on the 26th of September, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Holdrege and Miss Annie Mumford Hunt, a daughter of the late Charles F. Hunt, and they now have three children, Emily, George Chandler and Charles Francis. The family attend the Unitarian church. Mr. Holdrege votes with the republican party and he is identified with the leading organizations which figure most prominently in the social life of the city, being a member of the Omaha, University, Omaha Country and Athletic Clubs and the Council Bluffs Rowing Association. He is also a member of the Commercial Club. Alert and enterprising, he is watchful of every opportunity pointing to broader activity along business lines, and each step in his career has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities.
W. SCOTT KING.
W. Scott King, president of the King-Rohrbough Company, was born in Omaha, January 19, 1862, and is a representative of one of its oldest and best known pioneer families. His paternal grandfather was a native of Virginia and on removing westward settled at Springfield, Illinois, where his remaining days were passed. A great-grandfather of W. Scott King served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father, Jacob King, was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1832 and devoted his life to the occupation of farming. In August, 1856, he removed to Omaha, then a small frontier town of little commercial or industrial importance save that it was an outfitting station for travelers across the plains. In Omaha he wedded Christina Peterson and they remained residents of this city until called to the home beyond, the former passing away in 1910 and the latter in 1912.
In the schools of Omaha W. Scott King began his education and also received private instruction in civil engineering. His life has been devoted to professional activity along that line since 1881 and he has been more and more largely con- nected with important engineering projects as the years have gone on. He has become recognized as an authority upon many matters relating to his profession and from 1881 until 1887 he was connected as a civil engineer with the Union Pacific Railroad Company. In 1887 when the construction of the Union Stock Yards was begun Mr. King became chief engineer and superintendent of con- struction and continued to hold both of those positions until 1907 when he resigned. During this time the greater portion of the present yards was con- structed. At the present time he is a consulting engineer, practicing as president of the King-Rohrbough Company, which occupies a position of leadership in engineering circles.
In Elkhorn, Douglas county, Nebraska, on the 4th of January, 1888, Mr. King was married to Miss Margaret C. Hall, a daughter of the late Edward Hall, and they have become the parents of five children, Howard S., Fred W., Vera B., Ralph H. and Margaret.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the Episcopal church. Mr. King is well known in Masonic circles as both a York and Scottish Rite Mason and as a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership with the Elks and he
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belongs to the Nebraska Territorial Pioneers and the Douglas County Associa- tion of Nebraska Pioneers. In politics he is a stalwart republican and for five or six years he filled the office of city engineer of South Omaha, while in 1896 he was chosen county engineer of Douglas county, but after one year resigned to concentrate his energies upon the private practice of his profession, in which he has steadily advanced to a place of leadership.
ROBERT LEVI CARTER.
Robert Levi Carter, president of the Omaha Sheet Metal Company, has been engaged in that line of business in Omaha since 1886 and has conducted an independent enterprise since June, 1889, thus becoming a well known factor in the industrial circles of the city. He was born in Sparta, Illinois, November 16, 1865, a son of Robert Levi and Mary E. (Johaningsmier) Carter, who were married in Illinois. The father was born in North Carolina in 1822 and passed away in Illinois in 1879, while his widow, long surviving him, died in Omaha in 1903.
After attending the public schools in southern Illinois Robert L. Carter continued his education in a college at Carbondale, Illinois, but did not graduate. Crossing the threshold of business life, he learned the sheet metal worker's trade in Mason City, Iowa, and in 1886 came to Omaha, where he sought and secured employment in that line. He was ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account and in June, 1889, entered into partnership with Edward McBrien under the firm name of McBrien & Carter. They established a sheet metal shop at No. 110 South Eleventh street and the partnership continued for more than two years, at the end of which time Mr. Carter bought out the interests of Mr. McBrien. In 1909 the business was incorporated under the name of the Carter Sheet Metal Works and Mr. Carter became the president and executive head. In this connection he has since directed the policy and course of the business, which has steadily grown until it is now a large and profit- able productive industry of Omaha. In 1916 the firm name was changed to the Omaha Sheet Metal Company.
On the 8th of January, 1891, in Omaha, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Sherry and they have become the parents of three children, Mary Alice, Irene and Ruth Louise. The parents are Episcopalians in religious faith, holding membership in Trinity Cathedral, in which Mr. Carter is serving as vestryman. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of America. He is a life member of the Athletic Club of Omaha and belongs also to the Ak-Sar-Ben and the Commercial and Rotary Clubs, organizations which have to do with the upbuilding, substantial improvement and progress of the city. He manifests the same spirit of progressiveness in relation to public affairs that he has displayed in his private life and it is a well known fact that in his business career he has advanced steadily from the work bench to the position which he now occupies as president of a profitable and growing business concern of Omaha.
HON. JOHN E. REAGAN.
A member of the Omaha bar and a well known leader in democratic circles is IIon. John E. Reagan, whose especial concern in public affairs has always been manifest in efforts for the upbuilding and development of his city although he never sought nor held office himself until 1910. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1867 and, as the family name indicates, comes of Irish ancestry.
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His paternal grandfather, Thomas Reagan, lived and died in County Kerry, Ireland. His father, Michael Reagan, who was born in that county in 1822, came to the United States in 1848, settling first in Philadelphia. He afterward removed to Pittsburgh, where he remained for a year, and then went to St. Louis, Missouri. He came to Omaha in 1893 and there passed away in 1898. He devoted much of his life to farming and during the Civil war did service as a freighter. He was married in Davenport, Iowa, in 1860 to Miss Mary Farrell, who died in Omaha in 1906.
John E. Reagan pursued his education in the country schools of Adair county, Iowa, while spending his youthful days upon his father's farm and afterward attended the Teachers' Normal at Greenfield, Iowa, being graduated therefrom with the class of 1885. He took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years in Adair county, and then came to Omaha, where he established a little grocery store. While engaged in the conduct of his store he began the study of law and became one of the incorporators of the Omaha School of Law, now a department of Omaha University. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and has since specialized in handling estates, being thoroughly versed in land values and in all matters pertaining to his specialty. In practicing along that line he has traveled all over the United States and Europe in the interests of his clients.
In Omaha, on the 10th of June, 1902, Mr. Reagan was united in marriage to Miss Margaret C. Cannon, a daughter of the late Martin Cannon, and they have become the parents of four children, Adesta, Patricia, Margaret Clare and Frances Mary.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Reagan holds membership with the Friendly Sons of Ireland, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Moose. In politics he is a stalwart democrat but while long an active party worker he did not seek nor hold office until 1910, when he was elected to represent the sixth senatorial district, embracing Douglas county, in the upper house of the Nebraska general assembly, where he proved a strong and influential member, putting forth tireless effort to secure the adoption of laws favored by his constituents. He was a member of the first charter board of Omaha and he has served at different times both as chairman and secretary of the Douglas county democratic central committee. He is a fluent and earnest speaker and a forceful reasoner and his opinions carry weight with many.
FAY J. UEHLING.
Fay J. Uehling, closely connected with insurance interests in Omaha as secretary and manager of the Commonwealth Life Company, was born at Scribner, Nebraska, September 23, 1881, a son of Fred and Marie F. (Kroeger) Uehling, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Germany. At an early period in the development of this state the father came to Nebraska and first settled in Dodge county. He drove a freight team from Omaha and remained in Dodge county for sixteen years, being closely identified with its early development and progress. He settled at Scribner, where he established a furniture business, which he conducted for a short time. He afterward removed to Oakland, Burt county, where he engaged in the grain and lumber business, and in 1901 he retired from active connection with commercial interests, passing away in March, 1914, at the age of sixty years, his last days having been spent in Omaha. His widow, who was born in Germany, in March, 1858, is now living in Omaha. In their family were eight children, two of whom have passed away. Fay J. was the second in order of birth. The others who still survive are: Mrs. W. H. Bosse, of Meadow Grove, Nebraska; Emil M., also residing at
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Meadow Grove; Mrs. Henrietta Bloodheart, of Sioux City, Iowa; Fred H., of Omaha; and Dorothy, living in Omaha.
In his youthful days Fay J. Uchling attended the schools of Oakland, Nebraska, and passed through consecutive grades to the senior year in the high school. Hle afterward entered the Normal College at Fremont, Nebraska, and when his education was completed he started out in the business world, securing a position with the Holmquist Grain & Lumber Company, with which he remained for about four years. Ile then began business on his own account at Bloom- field, Nebraska, as a lumber merchant and remained at that point for three years, at the end of which time he became connected with the First National Bank of Bloomfield and was active in the banking business there for seven years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and became identified with the Common- wealth Life Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers. The business was established in 1909 and since entering upon active operations in the insurance field in 1910 has had a wonderful growth. The officers of the company are: Frans Nelson, president; George I. Parker and Paul Wupper, vice presi- dents; and Fay J. Uehling secretary. The business was established along safe and conservative yet progressive lines and the affairs of the company have been so conducted that its career has been one of increasing success.
On the 3d of August, 1904, Mr. Uehling was united in marriage to Miss Maude L. Chambers, of Ponca, Nebraska, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dayton Chambers, and they have one child, Fay Lucille, who was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, January 13, 1907, and is now attending school in Omaha.
The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Uehling is a Master Mason, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. In politics he is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He stands high in public regard as a substantial business man, a respected citizen and a faithful friend and he is rich in the possession of those character- istics which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.
RUBERT E. ROGERS. .
Rubert E. Rogers, who was long active in the development of the live stock industry in Omaha and the upbuilding of the Omaha Stock Yards, continued an active factor in business circles of the city to the time of his death, which occurred May 31, 1916. He was then sixty-one years of age, his birth having occurred at Tackbear Farms, in Devonshire, England.
While spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Nicholas and Lovedy (Jewell) Rogers, he pursued his education in the public schools. He was . still quite young when he came to America, making his way to Pennsylvania, while later he resided in Gilman, Illinois, prior to his removal to Nebraska in 1881. On coming to this state he took up his abode at Gibbon, on the Union Pacific Rail- road, purchased land and engaged in the cattle business at that point for about twelve years. He resided two years at Grand Island, where he devoted his atten- tion to the work of looking up loans, passing on cattle and other such activities in connection with the interests of Shelly, Rogers & Company at South Omaha, of which firm he became a partner about 1891. In 1895 he removed with his family to Omaha. The firm of Shelly, Rogers & Company later went out of business and Mr. Rogers immediately organized the Omaha Live Stock Commis- sion Company of which he became president and directing head. The firm still con- ducts an extensive business, for at the death of the father his interests were taken over by his sons and the business is still carried on under the name of the Omaha Live Stock Company. Mr. Rogers remained active in the business until I9II and was a most prominent factor in the development of the stock yards and the great packing house industries which have contributed so much to the
.RUBERT E. ROGERS
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growth, progress and prosperity of the city. He was a most excellent judge of cattle and his opinions were sought by many. There was no phase of the business with which he was not familiar and his sound judgment, keen discrimination and unfaltering enterprise were manifest in the substantial success that rewarded his efforts.
In Gilman, Illinois, in 1888, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Alice Margaret Tibbey, of London, England, a daughter of William and Margaret (McPherson) Tibbey, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers became the parents of two sons and a daughter : Arthur E., who is married and has three children; Bryant C., who is married and has one child; and Daisy B., the wife of Charles E. Olson.
Mr. Rogers was a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity and he belonged also to the Field Club of Omaha. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and was interested in all meas- ures relative to the public good. His was a strong character and his many sub- stantial qualities fitted him for leadership. Dependent upon his own resources from an early age, he steadily worked his way upward, making wise use of his time and talents and readily utilizing opportunities that others passed heedlessly by. There was no esoteric phase in all his business career but a straightforward- ness of purpose that made him one of the honored and respected citizens of Omaha.
ALBERT C. KUGEL.
Albert C. Kugel, filling the position of city commissioner in Omaha, in which connection he is superintendent of the important department of police, sanitation and public safety, was born in London, England, on the 8th of February, 1867, a son of John F. and Emily (Albrecht) Kugel. The father's birth occurred in Mochmel, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1838 and in London, England, he wedded Emily Albrecht. In 1872 they sailed for Canada and two weeks after reaching American shores the mother passed away in Toronto. In 1874 Mr. Kugel removed to Chicago and in 1877 became a resident of New York city. In 1880 he established his home at Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa, and for five years engaged in farming, although he was a cabinetmaker by trade and devoted much of his life to that pursuit. In 1885 he came to Omaha. For more than a quarter of a century he continued his residence here, passing away in the year 1911.
Albert C. Kugel largely acquired his education in the schools of New York city and never had the privilege of pursuing a college course. At the age of twenty years he secured a team and began farming on rented land in Shelby county, Iowa. After a year, however, he came to Omaha and here learned the plumbers' trade, subsequent to which time he engaged in the plumbing business until elected to his present office. He was for eight years financial secretary of the Plumber's Union of Omaha and for several years was a delegate in the Cen- tral Labor Union of Omaha, by which he was sent as a delegate to the convention of the American Federation of Labor held in Norfolk, Virginia. He served out an unexpired term as city plumbing inspector in the early 'gos but did not again seek or hold office until elected a member of the city council from the tenth ward of Omaha. He has twice been reelected under the commission form of government and became superintendent of the department of police, sanitation and public safety, now having supervision of those important departments of the public life. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and his efforts have been untiring in the advancement of its interests.
On the 8th of November, 1893, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Mr. Kugel was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Petersen. They have two children, Mildred Alberta
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and Charles Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Kugel hold membership in the Episcopal church and he is a well known York and Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Elks lodge and along strictly social lines is identified with the Automobile Club and the Seymour Lake Club. That he has deep concern for the public welfare is indicated not only in his official service but also in his membership in the Commercial Club and his hearty cooperation in all its plans and projects toward upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
WILLIAM JOSEPH McCRANN, M. D.
Dr. William Joseph McCrann, a physician of high professional attainments, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, March 31, 1855. His father, John McCrann, a native of County Sligo, Ireland, was born in 1830 and came to the United States in 1851. Two years later he was married in Louisville, Kentucky, and there he met an accidental death in 1860. His widow long survived him and passed away in Omaha in 1908.
In the schools of his native city Dr. McCrann pursued his early education and afterward, having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, entered the Louisville Medical College, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1883, winning a gold medal. The following year he became assistant to the chair of theory and practice in the Louisville Medical College. In 1885 he was appointed attending physician to St. Vincent's Orphanage, a Catholic institu- tion in Louisville, under the management of the Sisters of Nazareth of Ken- tucky, and containing several hundred children. He was also physician to the house of the Loretto Sisters of St. Bridget and to the Sisters of Charity as early as 1884.
In 1889 Dr. McCrann left Kentucky and removed to Tecumseh, Nebraska, where he practiced until 1892, when he removed to South Omaha, there resid- ing until 1912, when he took up his abode in Omaha. His work with the religious orders was continued after he came to this state and during his residence in South Omaha for fourteen years he was attending physician to the Sisters of Provi- dence. Also in 1894, when the Convent of the Good Shepherd was established in South Omaha with about five sisters and a dozen inmates, he was made phy- sician to that institution, which now has about two hundred and fifty inmates. At the present time he devotes most of his practice to the treatment of diseases of women and children and has attained a high degree of efficiency in that field. He has admitted his son, Dr. W. J. McCrann, Jr., to a partnership and they occupy a foremost position in the ranks of the medical fraternity in Omaha.
On the 23d of April, 1884, in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. McCrann was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary C. T. Hannon, daughter of the late Patrick Hannon. To them have been born three sons and eleven daughters, all of whom still survive with the exception of the eldest son and the eldest daughter. The son John C., was accidentally killed in Honolulu in January, 1913, while in the service of the government. Another son, Dr. W. J. McCrann, Jr., was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, May 21, 1891, and after completing his preparatory work in Creighton University entered the Louisville Medical College, from which his father had graduated many years before. The son completed his course there with honors in 1912 and in competitive examination won the appointment to the position of interne in the city hospital. With the close of his year's service in that position he joined his father in active practice in Omaha. The third son, Patrick, is attending the Creighton Medical College and expects to complete his course in medicine in 1918. The wife and mother, Mrs. Mary (Hannon) Mc- Crann, is a woman of great ability in art and music and although the mother of fourteen children has found time to cultivate her talent. She has made an unusual
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