USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 43
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In October, 1888, in Hillsdale, Michigan, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Proctor, a daughter of Samuel D. Proctor, who is deceased. They have one son, Samuel Evan, who was born October 21, 1890, and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston.
Mr. Rogers has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Commercial Club and he gives his political support to the republican party, but he has never been active in political circles aside from the exercise of his right of franchise, preferring always to concentrate his interests and attention upon his business affairs. His efforts along that line have been beneficial as well to the city, for it is a recognized fact that the enterprising real estate dealer has much to do with the substantial development and progress of the community in which he operates.
FRANKLIN W. CORLISS.
Such a life record as that of Franklin W. Corliss cannot but excite the admiration of all who read it, and it should, in every case, prove an incentive for further effort, showing what may be accomplished through determined and honorable purpose. He has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, but though now in the evening of his days he is still active and possesses the physical and mental vigor of a man of fifty years. Old age need not suggest, as a matter of course, helplessness or want of occupation. There is an old age that grows stronger and better mentally and morally as the years go by, and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. Such is the record of Mr. Corliss.
A native son of New England, he was born at Richford, Vermont, March 6, 1842, a son of James and Catherine (Whitney) Corliss, who were also natives of the Green Mountain state, where they spent their entire lives. The father was engaged in the cattle business and in farming, and as there were no rail- roads he drove his cattle to the Boston market. He died in 1860, while his widow survived until 1870. In their family were three sons and two daughters, all of whom have passed away save Franklin W. Corliss and Mrs. Joseph Bliss, of Omaha.
G. SAMUEL ROGERS
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Mr. Corliss was the fourth in order of birth. After attending the schools of his native town he assisted his father in the cattle business until he left home and went to Cleveland, Ohio. He was afterward in Upper Canada for four years and in 1871 he arrived in Waterloo, Nebraska, where he engaged in the cattle business and farming, there remaining for eighteen years. During that period he served for nine years as county commissioner and was a prominent and in- fluential citizen there, as well as a prosperous and enterprising man. While county commissioner he was the prime mover in the effort to establish a system of drainage to reclaim the swamp lands in the county, and during his tenure of office the first ditches for that purpose were constructed by the county.
On coming to Omaha Mr. Corliss entered the creamery business which fol- lowed the conduct of a similar enterprise of Waterloo. He also had creameries in Des Moines and in twenty-six other localities. He established the first cream- ery in the state and had the first cream separator in Nebraska. For many years he engaged in dairy farming on an extensive scale, but in 1910 he disposed of all his invested interests in dairy lines and developed a celery farm instead, his business in that connection having grown to large proportions. He owns exten- sive and valuable farm lands near Waterloo which are under a high state of cultivation and four of these farms are now rented to tenants. The fifth, as previously stated, is devoted to celery and has been developed into the finest celery farm of the state. The ground is as well if not better adapted for celery raising than the famous farms of Michigan. He has built on the place two fine hot houses and the celery produced therein has been pronounced by experts as fine as any grown in the entire country. This land is now valued at five hundred dollars per acre. He has started several of his nephews in the creamery busi- ness, and they are now rapidly becoming well known in this connection.
On the 26th of September, 1871, Mr. Corliss -was married to Miss Eliza Ann Hopper, of Wabash, Canada, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane Hopper, who removed from County Tyrone, Ireland, to Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Corliss occupy a fine residence at No. 2912 South Twenty-fourth street in Omaha and accord a gracious and warm-hearted hospitality there to their many friends. They are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Corliss is a Mason. He became a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Waterloo and is its oldest representative. For some time he has been gradually turning over his business interests to others so that he may enjoy the rest that he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is one of the best known among the older pioneers of Nebraska, and his activities have contributed in large measure to the upbuilding of the state along many lines.
BERNARD A. MCDERMOTT, M. D.
Dr. Bernard A. McDermott, a surgeon of Omaha, in which city he has prac- ticed for a decade after thorough preliminary college training and hospital exper- ience in Chicago, was born in Maryville, Missouri, in 1881. His grandfather, John McDermott, spent his entire life in County Donegal, Ireland, and it was there that the father, John W. McDermott, was born in 1828. In 1848, when a young man of twenty years, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for America, establishing his home at Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, where he remained for fifteen or twenty years. During that period he married Marjorie Harkins and about 1876 removed to Missouri, settling in Maryville. He became a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa. During the last twenty-five years of his life he was engaged in stock raising and ranching. His political allegiance was always loyally given to the democratic party. He passed away in Council Bluffs in 1908 and was survived by his widow, who died in December, 1916, in Aurora, Illinois.
Dr. McDermott pursued his education in the schools of Maryville, Missouri, to the age of twelve years and later attended the Christian Brothers College, from
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which he was graduated in 1898. He also spent two years as a student in Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana, and having determined upon the prac- tice of medicine as a life work, he matriculated in the medical department of the Northwestern University, completing his course in 1903. Following his graduation he secured an interneship in Mercy Hospital in Chicago, where he remained for two years-a most valuable training and experience. He was afterward assistant to a prominent Chicago surgeon and in 1906 came to Omaha, where he has since continued in the practice of general surgery, in which he displays marked skill. A cool nerve and a steady hand supplement comprehensive knowledge of scientific principles and his efforts have been attended with most excellent results.
On the 3rd of February, 1909, in Omaha, Dr. McDermott was married to Miss Sophia Helen Shirley, a native of Canada, and they now have two children ; Ber- nard A., born December 12, 1909, in Omaha; and Alice Shirley. The religious faith of the parents is that of the Catholic church and Dr. McDermott is identified with the Knights of Columbus. In politics Dr. McDermott is a democrat and fra- ternally is an Elk. He belongs to both the Omaha Club and the Omaha Field Club, while along professional lines he has extended membership relations, being a mem- ber of the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Association, the Missouri Valley Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
EDWIN F. BRAILEY.
Edwin F. Brailey, who is engaged in the undertaking business in Omaha, was born in Bristol, England, April 23, 1869, and the following year his parents brought their family to the new world, making their way to Iowa, where they remained for two years. In 1872 they removed to Boone county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded and thereafter devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1878. His widow continued to conduct the farm with the aid of her young sons until her demise in 1888, after which Edwin F. Brailey and his brother remained upon the farm for three years, keeping bachelors' hall during that period.
In 1893 Edwin F. Brailey came to Omaha and for two years was a student in a commercial college. He also learned the undertaking business with N. P. Swanson, in whose employ he remained until 1901, when, desirous of engaging in business on his own account, he opened undertaking parlors in connection with his present partner, W. H. Dorrance, under the firm name of Brailey & Dorrance. They established their business at Cuming and Twentieth streets and in 1907 they erected their present establishment, a two story brick building, at the corner of Nineteenth and Cuming streets. They are thoroughly equipped to handle their large and steadily growing trade. The offices, waiting room, chapel and embalming rooms occupy the first floor, while the display room occupies most of the second story. There they have a line of caskets in great variety and the finest undertaking materials of all kinds. As they keep open night as well as day sleeping chambers are also on the second floor. Adjoining, in the rear, is a garage, also a brick structure, and in this are to be found black and gray hearses and ambulances. This firm was the first west of Chicago to secure an automobile hearse and they also put in service the first automobile ambulance used in the west. Their business has been built up through courteous treatment and honorable dealing and today is an extensive and profitable one.
On the Ist of January, 1900, Mr. Brailey was married to Miss Eleanor Wright, who was born in Omaha in 1876 and is a daughter of Silas Wright, a respected pioneer of Omaha. Fraternally Mr. Brailey is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in the
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fall of 1901 he was elected coroner, to which office he was reelected in 1903 and again in 1905, serving for six years. In 1907 he was chosen sheriff and was reelected in 1909. He was a most creditable official and during the street car strike handled the situation with marked skill. His friends, and they are many, entertain for him warm regard, for he has admirable social qualities, is ever courteous, obliging and genial.
A. P. WOOD.
A. P. Wood, a railroad contracting engineer conducting business as a partner in the firm of Wood, Bancroft & Doty, entered upon his chosen life work after thorough preliminary preparation, being a graduate of the University of Michigan. He came to Omaha more than a half century ago and has since been identified with railroad building in the west. He is still an active factor in his profession although he has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. Such a career of useful- ness is deserving of more than passing notice and should serve as a source of inspi- ration and encouragement to others. Mr. Wood was born in Flushing, Belmont county, Ohio, January 24, 1837, a son of Louis and Susanna (Van Pelt) Wood. The father was also a native of Belmont county and in Highland county, Ohio, was married. His wife died in Flushing in 1844 and in 1864 Mr. Wood removed to Indiana. He engaged in farming and in teaching school during his residence in Ohio. His death occurred in Indiana when he had reached his eighty-fourth year. There were but two children in the family, the younger son being Jesse McKay, who became a soldier of the Civil war, joining the Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Resaca.
A. P. Wood attended the country schools of Ohio in his youthful days and worked upon his father's farm until he left home to enter the University of Mich- igan as a student in the civil engineering department. He was graduated therefrom in 1866 and on the 17th of July of the same year reached Omaha, then a city upon the outposts of civilization. He entered the construction department of the Union Pacific Railway Company on the second day after his arrival here and continued with the company until the railroad was completed. At the time of his initial connection therewith tracks had been laid only to Lone Tree, now Central City. He later became connected with the Omaha & Northwestern Railroad Company, serving as assistant chief engineer under J. E. House, who was chief of construc- tion and location. He was identified with that company until August, 1872, when he went to San Diego, California, as superintendent of construction with the Texas & Pacific Railway on the Pacific end of the road, continuing on the western coast until after the failure of the road in 1873. He then went to San Francisco and took a contract to lay the track for the North Pacific Coast Road to the Redwood country. When that project was completed he returned to Omaha and contracted with the Union Pacific for the building of branch lines. In 1879 he was appointed chief engineer on the Union Pacific Lines up to Norfolk and also did work on other branch lines from Grand Island to St. Paul and the line from Lincoln, branching out from the Republic Valley Road. In more recent years he has been contracting engineer on various railroads all over the country and the extent, character and importance of his work have been such that he is today one of the well known railroad builders in the country. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the work in its practical and scientific branches. He has kept in touch with the trend of modern progress in railroad construction and his broad know- ledge and experience have enabled him to correctly solve many of the intricate and involved problems of the profession. In addition to his efforts along that line he became interested in stock raising on an extensive scale, formerly owning a fine ranch in Stanton county, Nebraska, where they bred fine Hereford cattle. In this undertaking he was a partner of George F. Bancroft. Mr. Wood and his son, W.
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Righter Wood, are equal partners in the ownership of what is known as the Arwood Dairy Farm, a valuable property.
On the 28th of February, 1872, at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Effie Righter and they have two children, W. Righter and Mary Lewis. The latter, born in 1886, is a graduate of a school for young ladies at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The son, born in San Francisco in 1876, is a graduate of the Agricultural College of Nebraska and is now a partner with his father in the ownership of the Arwood Dairy Farm, of which he acts as manager. He married Miss Laura Dale, a daughter of John F. Dale, of Omaha. They have one child, Martha Eleanor.
Mr. Wood has exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party almost from the organization of the party, which came into existence only a short time before he attained his majority. His life has ever been guided by high and honorable principles in conformity with his professions as a member of the first Presbyterian church. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey but "while the snows of winter are on his head, the flowers of spring are in his heart." He is today young in spirit and interests and is a notably well preserved man, alert to the progress of the world in all present day conditions. He is widely known among Omaha's citizens, having been closely associated with municipal development and progress here for a half century, and there are few who are more familiar with the upbuilding of the west and the trend which modern civilization has taken in this great and growing section of the country.
WILLIAM JOHN MONAGHAN.
William John Monaghan, manager at Omaha for the Bemis Bro. Bag Com- pany of St. Louis, has been continuously identified with this business for more than a quarter of a century and from a humble position has worked his way steadily upward to his present place of executive control and responsibility. Omaha claims him as a native son for he was here born on the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1874, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Lyons) Monaghan. The father was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1843 and in early manhood crossed the Atlantic to Montreal, Canada, where he was married. In 1868 he brought his wife to Omaha and their remaining days were spent in this city. For a quarter of a century the father was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company as foreman of the supply department. He died in October, 1906, hav- ing for a year survived his wife, who passed away in October of the previous year.
After attending the parochial schools of Omaha for a number of years William J. Monaghan continued his education for a brief time in Creighton Uni- versity. However, he had previously made his start in the business world, having secured a position in a job printing office in Omaha when but thirteen years of age. There he remained for six months and in 1889, when a youth of fifteen, he entered the employ of the Bemis Bro. Bag Company at Omaha in a very minor capacity. He afterward mastered the work in its various departments, faithfully performing every task assigned to him, and as the years have passed he has won steady promotion, becoming manager of the Omaha branch of the business in March, 1910. Sheer ability, undaunted pluck and determination and unfalter- ing industry have constituted the process by which he has advanced to his present place of responsibility and trust. That he has made for himself a most creditable position in business circles is indicated in the fact that he is now a director of the Nebraska Manufacturers' Association and was formerly vice president of the Omaha Manufacturers' Association.
On the 20th of April. 1907, in Omaha, Mr. Monaghan was united in marriage
WILLIAM J. MONAGHAN
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to Miss Bernadine Johnson, a daughter of John A. Johnson, and their children are John E., Mary Jane and William J.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Monaghan has membership with the Knights of Columbus. Along recreational lines he has connection with the Elmwood Park Golf Club and the Athletic Club of Omaha. He likewise belongs to the Commercial Club and to the Ak-Sar-Ben and has a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the county in which his entire life has been passed. He has so directed his efforts that advancement has followed as a logical sequence and his position is now one demanding admin- istrative direction and executive control.
GERTRUDE CUSCADEN, M. D.
Dr. Gertrude Cuscaden, a practicing physician of Omaha connected with the medical profession of the city since March, 1884, comes to Nebraska from Chillicothe, Ohio, her native city. Her parents were Henry and Mary (Jones) Jones, the former of English and Welsh descent, while the latter came of Hol- land and Welsh ancestry. The father was born on a farmi where three gener- ations of the family lived.
Reared in Ohio, Dr. Cuscaden attended the district schools and afterward entered the Wesleyan University at Delaware, from which she was graduated in 1870. She determined to make the practice of medicine her life work and in March, 1874, was graduated from the medical department of the State University of Michigan, and in June of that year graduated from a pharmaceutical course. For a year thereafter she served as interne in the New England Hospital for women and children, gaining the broad and valuable practical experience that is never obtained as quickly in any other way as in hospital work. She then practiced at Chillicothe until her removal to Omaha .:
Gertrude Jones became the wife of John A. Cuscaden, a native of New York and a Civil war soldier, who while living in Indiana served as school superintendent. In Omaha he was employed in the postoffice for twenty-four and one-half years and on the 18th of November, 1914, death called him. In the family were four children, as follows: Robert, a violinist residing in Boston ; Frederick, the cashier of the Merchants National Bank of Omaha; Alexander, the Sunday editor of Hearst's Examiner at Los Angeles, California ; and Thomas Scott, a student in Gallaudet College, at Washington, District of Columbia.
Dr. Cuscaden holds to the Society of Friends or Quakers, the church of her father's family, in her religious views. She continues in the general practice of medicine, with office in the Bee building, and is accorded a liberal patronage. She has always kept in touch with the advance of the profession through broad reading and study, and anything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of deep interest to her.
EDWARD G. GANGESTAD.
One of the men who has assisted very materially in the growth and upbuilding of Omaha and who has started many of the most prosperous business men of the city on the road to success by placing them in suitable lines of endeavor, is Edward G. Gangestad, who, with offices in the Bee building, is conducting a real estate and investment business. He has handled many lines and the nature of his methods is indicated by the entire satisfaction felt by his clients with their investments. He displays notable sagacity and insight into business conditions and situations and his "business chances" have been made worth while to his patrons.
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Mr. Gangestad was born in Humboldt county, Iowa, September 18, 1874, a son of E. A. and Anna Bertha Gangestad, both of whom came to this country from Norway in 1868 and settled in Humboldt county, where the father engaged in farming. there remaining throughout his life. He passed away in 1894, at the age of fifty-five years. His widow is still living at the age of eighty-three.
Edward G. Gangestad was the ninth in their family of ten children. In early life he attended the public schools of his native county and afterward pursued a course in a business college in Minneapolis. He then entered into active connection with the lumber trade at Starbuck, Minnesota, and in 1904 came to Omaha, where for six years he was connected with the Edwards & Bradford Lumber Company as manager. In the year of his arrival he also began dealing in real estate, and with the growth of his business he has given up his connection with the lumber interests and has added a business department to the real estate, handling all kinds of business opportunities and also dealing in all kinds of property.
In October, 1898, in Humboldt county, Iowa, Mr. Gangestad was married to Miss Lena Willikson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Willikson. Mrs. Gangestad passed away in October, 1909, leaving three children : Elmer L., born in Starbuck, Minnesota, in 1900; Olaf W., in Humboldt county, Iowa, in 1901 ; and Marjorie in Omalia, in 1909. At Council Bluffs on the 2d of January, 1915, Mr. Gangestad was married to Miss Nina Wyant, a daughter of Newton Wyant, a resident of Chambers, Nebraska.
Mr. Gangestad votes with the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. His has been a very active life. He has ever been alert and ready for any chance that has come his way. He has never forced opportunity to knock twice at his door and he has displayed notable insight into business situations, thus winning the success which is creditably and honorably his.
FRED C. HAVER.
Fred C. Haver, secretary of the Bankers Realty Investment Company, is of German birth, although he has spent almost his entire life in the United States. He was born in 1872, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl William Haver. In 1880 the father came alone to the United States and after preparing a home for his family was joined by wife and children in 1881. They first settled in Monticello, Iowa, but in 1883 removed to Omaha. For many years the father devoted his life to farming and passed away in 1910.
Fred C. Haver pursued his early education in the country schools of Jones county or the town schools of Monticello, Iowa, and afterward continued his edu- cation in the public schools of Omaha but was a youth of only fourteen years when he put aside his textbooks in order to earn his living, entering the employ of the Burlington Railroad as messenger boy at the headquarters in Omaha. He remained with that corporation for eighteen years, winning advancement from time to time until he became assistant chief clerk, which position he resigned on leaving the Burlington service in 1904. He was thereafter engaged in busi- ness on his own account for two years and later he engaged in mercantile book- keeping for two firms, devoting his attention to that work for about six years. In 1912 he was made secretary of the Bankers Realty Investment Company, of which he is also a director, and in this connection he occupies a leading position among the business men of the city.
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