USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 27
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DR. WILLIAM J. McCRANN
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record, as she has served for twenty-five years of her married life as organist and choir director, having officiated as organist in St. Agnes' church at South Omaha for ten years before the removal of the family to Omaha.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Dr. Mc- Crann holds membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has represented the Hibernians and also the Young Men's Institute, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the democratic party in national conventions. He has taken an active part in community affairs and for eight years was president of the South Omaha Commercial Club. His political endorsement is given the democratic party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise. For a time he filled the office of county physician of Douglas county and before leaving Louisville he served on the board of health of that city. He has been a delegate to many city, county, state and national fraternal and political conventions and has always taken an active part in democratic politics. It is said that every man has hobbies and Dr. McCrann's are perhaps music, or, as he says, something with sound or noise in it, and children. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare of children and in fact has put forth effort in many instances for the benefit of mankind.
JOSEPH B. HUMMEL.
On the list of Omaha's city commissioners appears the name of Joseph B. Hummel, who is superintendent of parks and public property. He does not belong to that class of new arrivals who sometimes capture a city by storm and enter upon a spectacular phase of existence but is on the contrary almost a lifelong resident of Omaha and one whose worth has been established in the long years of his residence here. He was brought to Omaha in 1863, when but six months old. His birth occurred in Yankton, South Dakota, September 8, 1862, being a son of John and Ellen (Fischer.), Hummel, natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married. The, father was born in 1826 and in early life learned the cabinetmaker's trade. - "In 1852 he brought his family to the United States and in 1856 became a resident of Omaha. Later he removed to South Dakota and eventually returned to Omaha, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1894, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1896.
In the public schools of Omaha Joseph B. Hummel acquired his education and started in the business world as a building contractor, in which connection he made steady progress, but the public recognized his ability.and called him to office, since which time he has been almost continuously in the public service. He was elected a member of city council and acted in that capacity for three years. He was then chosen one of the new city commissioners and such was the excellence of his record that when he again became a candidate for the office he received the highest vote of any man on the ticket, polling twenty-two hundred more votes than the next highest candidate in May, 1915. He is superintendent of parks and public property and he has thoroughly studied every question relat- ing to his specific duties and has given to the city the benefit of faithful, loyal and capable service. Before becoming councilman he was street commissioner of Omaha from 1900 until 1906 and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.
On November 5, 1902, in Omaha, Mr. Hummel was married to Miss Josephine Myers and they have become parents of two sons, Joe Lyman and Frank. Mr. Hummel is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he has always given his political allegiance to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has made his home in this city
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for fifty-four years and comparatively few of its residents are more familiar with its history or have longer been a witness of the changes which have occurred. His memory goes back to the time when he gathered hazelnuts within a block of the site of the present city hall, little dreaming that he would one day become one of the commissioners of a great metropolitan center. Times were hard and money scarce at that period, and he remembers going with his mother down to the river bank when a steamboat anchored at the foot of Douglas street and his mother there paid thirty-six dollars for a barrel of flour. His entire life has been characterized by certain admirable qualities, among which is unfaltering honesty. He has made it a point to pay his debts promptly and never to interfere in the affairs of others. That the course which he has pursued is a wise one is indicated in the high regard entertained for him by those who know him, his circle of friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance in Omaha.
ALFRED J. BEATON.
Alfred J. Beaton, a furniture dealer of Omaha for many years, continuing active in that field up to the time of his death, was well known and highly respected by reason of the many sterling traits of character which were manifest throughout his entire business career. He was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, April 22, 1872, and passed away on the 24th of February, 1916. His parents were Allen and Mary (McDonald) Beaton, who removed from Canada to Omaha, where the father engaged in the lumber and coal business, spending his remaining days in this city.
Alfred J. Beaton completed his education in Omaha by a course of study in Creighton University and throughout his entire business career he was connected with commercial pursuits. He first entered mercantile circles as an employ of the Omaha Carpet Company and later he bought out the mercantile business of the J. L. Baker Company, which had succeeded to the business of the Shiverick Furniture Company. On acquiring the interests of the Baker Company Mr. Beaton organized the Miller, Stewart & Beaton Company, which in 1907 removed its store from Fourteenth and Farnam streets to a business block on Sixteenth street, betweent Harney and Howard streets. This is the present location of the Beaton & Laier Company, which firm was founded in 1912, Mr. Beaton becoming its president. Mrs. Beaton still continues the business which he established and displays marked capability and sagacity in carrying on the undertaking.
In Omaha Mr. Beaton was united in marriage to Miss Miriam Edith Orcutt, daughter of the late Clinton D. Orcutt. To this union were born two children, Orcutt and Anna Jane. Mr. Beaton belonged to St. Cecelia's Catholic church and along strictly social lines he had membership with the Omaha and the Country Clubs. He was a very active business man and enjoyed the confidence and goodwill of colleagues and contemporaries in an unusual degree. For two years prior to his death he was ill and was obliged to remain at home, passing away when but forty-three years of age. His worth was widely acknowledged by all who came in contact with him and in trade circles of the city he made for himself a very enviable position.
LEROY CRUMMER, M. D.
This is an age of specialization. Expert investigation has led to the concen- tration of activity along a single line of professional endeavor rather than the disposition of one's energies over a broader field. While well versed in the general principles of medicine and surgery, Dr. LeRoy Crummer, in common
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with the tendency of the age, is giving his attention especially to diagnosis and his work in that direction is notably successful. He was born in Elizabeth, Illinois, April 15, 1872, a son of Dr. Benjamin F. Crummer, also a native of that place, born in 1848, who in his early twenties married Mary Louise Donkersley, born in New England. Dr. Benjamin F. Crummer had prepared for a profes- sional career as a medical student in the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1869. In 1888 they removed to Omaha, where he remained in active and successful practice until his death, January 23, 1907.
Dr. LeRoy Crummer received his early education in the public schools of Warren, Illinois, and afterward attended the Omaha high school, from which he was graduated in 1889. Whether inherited tendency, environment or natural predilection had most to do with his choice of a profession it is perhaps impossible to determine. He was in a measure "to the manner born" and the work of his father perhaps influenced him to turn his attention in the direction in which he has since won notable and creditable success. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan, in 1893, he entered the medical school of the Northwestern University at Chicago and there completed his course in 1896. He has, however, always been a close and discriminating student of his profession, embracing every opportunity whereby he might promote his knowl- edge and advance his efficiency. He has been engaged in practice as a specialist in diagnosis since 1897 and has taken post graduate work in Vienna, Berlin, Frankfort-on-the-Main, London and Zurich.
Dr. Crummer is a republican in politics, is a member of the University Club, the Country Club and the Omaha Club, but all of these interests are side issues in a life of intense activity in his profession. In addition to a large private practice he is serving as professor of clinical medicine in the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has been president of the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, and is a member also of the Missouri Valley Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
HON. JAMES A. C. KENNEDY.
Hon. James A. C. Kennedy, an attorney of Omaha, Nebraska, was born October 31, 1876, in the city in which he still resides. He comes of Irish ancestry, his grandfather being Thomas Kennedy, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, who in early manhood came to the United States and spent his last days in New York city. Thomas Kennedy, father of James A. C. Kennedy, was born in Kentucky in 1848 and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in an Ohio regiment, with which he served for two years in defense of the Union, when illness incapacitated him for further duties. In Zanesville, Ohio, he married Anna M. Kennedy and in 1872 they removed to Omaha, where Mr. Kennedy passed away in 1883, his death resulting from conditions brought about by his military experience. His widow survives and is yet living in Omaha.
Reared under the parental roof and attending the public schools and Creighton College, James A. C. Kennedy, at the age of fifteen years, was compelled to put aside his books and made his initial step in the business world as a messenger boy in the First National Bank. Fidelity and ability won him promotion and by the close of his seven years connection with that institution he had risen to the position of bank bookkeeper. While working in the bank he devoted his evening hours to the study of law but with the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in April, 1898, he responded to the Country's call for troops, enlisting as a private in Company G, Second Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, which company was known as the Omaha Guards. A month later he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and later was appointed judge advocate and ordinance officer of the regiment, so continuing until mustered out at Fort Omaha at the close of
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the war on the 11th of November, 1898. Mr. Kennedy had previous military training as a member of the State Militia (Omaha Guards) from 1895 until 1898 with which company he served as private, corporal and sergeant.
Following his return to Omaha, Mr. Kennedy resumed his study of law, completing his course in 1900 in the University of Nebraska. He then entered upon the practice of his profession, which he is now following as junior partner in the firm of Mahoney & Kennedy. Earnest effort, close application and the exercise of his native talents have won him prestige as a lawyer at a bar that numbers many eminent and prominent men. An excellent presence, marked strength of character and a thorough grasp of the law with the ability to correctly apply its principles make him an effective and successful advocate and his clientage is now large and of an important character. He has also become con- nected as director and stockholder with several important commercial enterprises of Omaha.
On the Ist of June, 1905, in Omaha, Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Purvis, a daughter of Robert Purvis, and their children are Ann- Marie, Jean and James A. C., Jr.
Mr. Kennedy is a Catholic in religious faith, and in club circles he is well known, belonging to the University, Omaha and Country Clubs and also to the Commercial Club. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The democratic party finds in him a stalwart advocate and in 1903 he was elected on its ticket to the state legislature from Douglas county. In the same year he became deputy county attorney of Douglas county, which position he occupied for two years, and in 1906 he was appointed referee in bankruptcy under the late Judge William H. Munger and continued as a referee for ten years. In 1916 he was selected as one of the Nebraska delegates to the democratic national convention at St. Louis.
Mr. Kennedy is general attorney in Nebraska for the Missouri Pacific Rail- road Company and represents various other important corporations and private interests in the practice of his profession, in connection with which he has won notable distinction.
JOHN EDWIN VON DORN.
John Edwin von Dorn, a member of the Omaha bar, specializing in civil law practice, was born September 10, 1872, at 17th and Harney streets in the city in which he makes his home, his parents being Theodore L. and Mary C. (Parker) von Dorn. The father was born in Chester, New Jersey, August 17, 1844, and the mother's birth occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 15, 1845. They were married in Sedalia, Missouri, September 9, 1871. Eight years before Mr. von Dorn had come to the middle west, establishing his home in Omaha, and throughout his remaining days he continued a resident of this city, covering a period of forty- four years, his death occurring August 17, 1907. He was a highly educated man. He saw active service in the Civil war, was severely injured in the battle of Fredericksburg and upon leaving the hospital removed to Omaha, hoping to regain his health in the west. He was one of the party which first surveyed the route of the Union Pacific Railroad and afterward engaged in the machinery and foun- dry business at No. 1410 Harney street, in the rear of Tom Murray's famous junk shop, which property he owned. At length the effects of his injuries received in the war compelled him to give up his business. He built the first apartment house in Omaha, which was known as the Von Dorn block and was located at No. 816 South Twenty-second street. He was well known to all the pioneers of Omaha and took an active part in all public affairs. His widow survived until January 27, 1916, when she, too, was called to her final rest.
JOHN E. VON DORN
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John E. von Dorn attended the Omaha schools and Bellevue College and in early life took up the study of telegraphy. When but fourteen years of age he became agent and telegrapher for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad office at Turlington, Nebraska. remaining with that road for two years. He then went with the Northern Pacific Railroad as agent and operator, being employed in those capacities at several places until 1893. He afterward spent eight months with the Union Pacific Railroad and on attaining his majority turned his atten- tion to the study of law. He had become convinced that if he made the progress he desired he must qualify for some other line of work and through a consider- able period he devoted every moment that he could spare from business interests to mastering the principles of jurisprudence. It was necessary, however, that he provide for his own support throughout the period of his preparation and in 1900 he entered the grain business, which he carried on until 1008. The follow- ing year he was admitted to practice at Lincoln and has since followed his profes- sion, devoting his attention exclusively to civil law.
Mr. von Dorn has been married twice. On the 7th of April, 1896, in Papillion, Nebraska, he wedded Louise Miller, a daughter of David Miller, and they had a son, John Edwin, born February 7, 1901. On the 5th of September, 1911, in Glenwood, Iowa, Mr. von Dorn was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Rubin, a daughter of Louis and Flora (Rothholz) Rubin, of Omaha, who, however, are natives of Germany.
In politics Mr. von Dorn is a republican, manifesting a citizen's interest in all public questions of moment. In Masonry he has taken the degrees of the York Rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. Laudable ambition has brought him to his present creditable place in professional circles. He may truly be called a self-made man, for from the early age of fourteen years he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins and industry became the beacon light of his life. He does with thoroughness anything that he undertakes and this characteristic, manifest in his preparation of his cases, is one of the strong elements in his success.
HON. CHARLES HOWE WITHNELL.
Hon. Charles Howe Withnell, city commissioner of Omaha and superintendent of fire protection and water supply, has also been connected with the manage- ment of such interests as a legislator. Omaha claims him as a native son, his birth having here occurred on the 30th of June, 1858. His father, John Withnell, a native of Manchester, England, was born in 1827 and came to the United States in the early '50s. In St. Louis he wedded Mary A. Commer, who was born in Somersetshire, England, and on the 12th of October, 1854, they removed to Omaha, then a straggling village on the western frontier. The father became a general contractor and was thus closely allied with the development and improve- ment of the city. He died in January, 1901, having long survived his wife, who passed away in January. 1883.
Reared in Omaha, Charles H. Withnell attended its public schools and a business college. When his textbooks were put aside he learned the bricklayer's trade and in 1887 began contracting along that line. He was thus engaged until 1903, when he was called to public office, being elected city building inspector, which position he capably and continuously filled until 1912, when he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of city commissioner and became super- intendent of the department of fire protection and water supply. He is now giving his entire attention to his official duties, which are discharged most promptly and capably. He has ever exercised his right of franchise in support of democratic principles since age conferred upon him the suffrage and in 1893
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he was elected on the democratic ticket to represent Douglas county in the state legislature.
On the 23d of May, 1888, in Malvern, Iowa, Mr. Withnell was united in mar- riage to Miss Alfaretta J. Cleaver and their children are John E. and Kent Charles. The former married Sybil Robinson and the latter son married Miss Bessie Ahlquist. Mr. and Mrs. Withnell hold membership in the Episcopal church and he is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He has continuously held office in Omaha for thirteen years and the record which he has made is an excellent one, for at all times he stands firmly in support of his honest convictions, subordinating per- sonal aggrandizement to the general good and partisanship to the public welfare.
HERBERT H. FISH.
Herbert H. Fish, vice president and general manager of the Western News- paper Union and a resident of Omaha, was born in Oxford, New York, in 1870 and is a representative of one of the old families of the Empire state. His grandfather, Selah H. Fish, was born at Fishkill, New York, in 1815, came of Holland ancestry and passed away in 1887. John J. Fish, father of Herbert H. Fish, was born in Cooperstown, New York, in 1845, and is now a resident of Neenah, Wisconsin.
It was there that Herbert H. Fish acquired his public school education, supplemented by study in the Lake Forest University at Lake Forest, Illinois. In 1888 he returned to Neenah and entered the office of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company, by which he was employed until 1893, when he became a resident of Nebraska. Settling at Lincoln, he secured a position with the Western Newspaper Union and two years later was transferred to the Chicago office, where he remained for six years. In the latter part of 1900 he came to Omaha and in 1903 became secretary of the business at this point, serving in that capacity until September, 1916, when he was elected vice president and general manager. He is active in controlling the interests of that great organiza- tion which in its splendidly developing system is disseminating news all over the country to hundreds of papers, while its news gatherers are known in every sec- tion of the world. Twenty-three years' connection with the Newspaper Union indicates the value of Mr. Fish's service, his business qualities being especially adapted for the responsible interests now under his control.
In his political views Mr. Fish is a stalwart republican with firm belief in the principles of the party. He is prominently known in club circles, beng identified with the Omaha Commercial, Field, Rotary, Happy Hollow and Omaha Athletic Clubs of Omaha and with the Union League Club of Chicago.
HARRISON CROSBY BROME.
Harrison Crosby Brome, for twenty-nine years an active member of the Omaha bar, is a man of strong purpose and in the utilization of the talents and powers with which nature endowed him he has worked his way upward to a position of distinction in the practice of law. He was born upon a farm in Sullivan county, New York, March 8, 1856, a son of Levi and Mary E. (Hill) Brome and a grandson of the Rev. Philip C. Brome, a native of England, who became a minister of the Primitive Baptist church. He founded the family in the new world and passed away in the state of New York. Levi Brome was born in Sullivan county, New York, in 1821 and in 1880 removed westward with his family to Norfolk, Nebraska, where he resided until 1903. He and his
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wife then became residents of Butte, Montana, where their remaining days were passed. Throughout the entire period of his active business career Levi Brome followed the occupation of farming.
Reared upon the home farm in Sullivan county, New York, with the usual environment and opportunities of the farm bred boy, Harrison C. Brome took up the profession of teaching after mastering the branches of learning taught in the district schools. He devoted his attention to that profession in New York between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two years and while thus engaged utilized his leisure hours for the study of law. In 1878 he became a resident of Cass county, Nebraska, where he engaged in teaching through the succeeding winter, and he also became a law student in the office of Sam M. Chapman, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He was there admitted to practice in March, 1879, and in May of that year opened an office at Stanton, Nebraska. In November, 1881, he removed to Norfolk, Nebraska, and became associated with A. J. Durland in the practice of his profession under the firm style of Brome & Durland, an association that was maintained until 1885, when the junior partner retired. On the Ist of January, 1887, Benjamin T. White and Burt Mapes joined Mr. Brome under the firm name of Brome, White & Mapes. That association was continued until June, 1888, when Mr. Brome removed to Omaha and opened an office. In 1890 he became senior partner in the firm of Brome, Andrews & Sheehan, his associates being I. R. Andrews and James B. Sheehan. That connection was discontinued in 1893 and about the Ist of January, 1894, Mr. Brome entered into partnership with A. H. Burnett under the firm style of Brome & Burnett. Withdrawing from that partnership in 1908, he is now senior partner in the firm of Brome & Brome, his associate being his son, Clinton. It is well known that Mr. Brome is never easily swerved from a course which he marks out. He possesses tenacity and courage and one of the strong elements of his success is the thoroughness with which he prepares his cases. His mind is naturally analytical and logical in its trend and he readily recognizes the relation between cause and effect. He is sel- dom, if ever, at fault in the application of a legal principle. He never seeks to enshroud his cause in a sentimental garb or illusion, but endeavors to present it in the strong, clear light of reason and thus promote the ends of justice.
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