USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 59
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In his fraternal relations Mr. Dahlman is an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman of the World, an Eagle, a Stag and a United Workman. He also has membership in the Ak-Sar-Ben and the Omaha Commercial Club and his name is on the membership roll of the Omaha Field Club. His record, as gained from the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen, constitutes an important chapter in the history of Omaha and of the state. Everywhere he is spoken of in terms of admiration and respect, for his life has been varied in its activity, honorable in its purpose and farreaching and beneficial in its effects.
JAKE MITCHELL.
Jake Mitchell, manager of the Laemmle Film Company of Omaha, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1873, his parents being Simon and Minnie (Oppen- heimer) Mitchell, who were natives of Reichenbach, Germany, whence they came to the new world with their respective parents, the families settling in New York city. In early life Simon Mitchell engaged in the meat business and later was in the government service for ten years, his death occurring while he was connected with the mail service in 1895, at which time he was fifty-eight years of age. His wife passed away in 1907, at the age of seventy-one years. In his family were six children, of whom three have passed away, while those still living are : Mrs. Louis Pollock, of New York city ; Lee, residing in Chicago; and Jake, of this review.
The last named attended school until fourteen years of age and then, like many another boy who has risen to prominence and success in the business world, he began selling newspapers and shining shoes. When he was but fourteen years of age he entered the government employ as special delivery messenger and remained in the government service for fifteen years, working his way steadily upward. He afterward became assistant postmaster at Ridgway, Pennsylvania, and later went upon the road as a commercial traveler for a short period. Removing to Chicago, he became correspondent for Sears, Roebuck & Company, continuing with that house for one year. He then went to Cleveland, where he was engaged in the oil
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business for a year and afterward removed to Evansville, Indiana. He entered into the moving picture business in connection with the Laemmle Film Service as office clerk and worked his way upward to the position of manager. On severing that connection he went to Oklahoma, where he was with various film companies for five and one-half years. He then came to Omaha as publicity man and manager for the Laemmle Film Company in 1915 and has continued to act in that capacity. The Laemmle Film Service of Omaha has been one of the industries that has aided in bringing the motion picture business up to the high standard it now enjoys. It has ever been the purpose of the company to send out only the best films. As manager Mr. Mitchell has under his direction forty-two employes for this terri- tory at the big service station of the company on Farnam street. The Universal films, sent out by the company all over the country, show many celebrated actors and actresses. Thirty-one new reels are released each week, including features. In addition hundreds of reels that have been used are sent to territories where they have not been shown before. The service covers about four hundred shows in the territory adjacent to Omaha. The term Universal now is synonymous in moving picture circles with the highest quality of service, and Mr. Mitchell is making it his purpose not only to maintain the high standard already achieved but even to raise this, utilizing every possible means that will present the highest class of pictures to the public.
On the 3Ist of January, 1910, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Hilda Heilbron, of Owensboro, Kentucky, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Heil- bron. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks Lodge at Ridgway, Pennsylvania, and he also has membership with the Travelers Protective Association and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He bends his energies to his business and his unremitting diligence and laudable ambition have constituted the factors which have led to his continuous advancement, as he started out to earn his own living when a young lad in his teens.
FRANK E. CLARK.
Frank E. Clark, an investment broker of Omaha, was born June 23, 1869, at Silver Creek, New York, the younger of two children, his sister being now Mrs. G. W. Davis, of South Omaha. His parents were Smith and Eliza Anna (De Wolfe) Clark. The former, a native of Silver Creek, New York, was a representative of an old Massachusetts family of colonial days. The ancestors came from England and the name was originally spelled with a final e. Both the grandfather and the father of Frank E. Clark were carriage and wagon manu- facturers of New York. In 1885 Smith Clark removed to North Platte, Nebraska, where he successfully engaged in the coal business for some years, but is now living retired. While residing in the Empire state he took an active part in politics as a supporter of the republican party and filled various offices, including that of member of the New York assembly.
Frank E. Clark pursued his education in the schools of Silver Creek and of Buffalo, New York, and made his initial step in business in connection with his father. He removed to Omaha in March, 1892, and became connected with the South Omaha National Bank, in which he spent eighteen months as book- keeper, but ill health due to close confinement forced him to resign his position. In January, 1894, he became connected with the Omaha & Council Bluffs Rail- way & Bridge Company, with which he continued in an official capacity until May 31, 1899. He next took charge of the ore desk for the American Smelting & Refining Company, with which he remained until November 15, 1903. He then became credit man for John G. Woodward & Company, of Council Bluffs, where he remained until May 31, 1906, resigning that position to accept a position with Mr. Barton. On the Ist of June, 1906, he entered into business relations'
FRANK E. CLARK
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with Guy C. Barton and after Mr. Barton's death was trustee of the estate and since the estate has been settled he has handled the business affairs and finances for Mrs. K. C. Barton and her minor children. He is likewise a director of the Sheridan Coal Company and in business circles of Omaha he is regarded as a most capable and resourceful man.
On the 16th of June, 1896, in Council Bluffs, Mr. Clark was united in mar- riage to Miss Bernice Bennett, a native of Glenwood, Iowa and a daughter of Thomas and Catherine ( Evernham) Bennett. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children : Jayne B., who was born December 23, 1898; Elizabeth, July 26, 1908; and Devah, August 13, 1913.
Mr. Clark exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He was made a Mason in Council Bluffs in 1895 and belongs to Bluff City Lodge, F. & A. M., and Council Bluffs Chapter, R. A. M. He likewise has membership in the Happy Hollow Club and the Omaha Com- mercial Club. He is serving on the Omaha board of education and progressive school methods find in him a strong endorser. He is also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association, is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and superintendent of its Sunday school. In a word he takes a very active interest in church work and does everything in his power to promote moral progress and the adoption of higher standards of living, his life record standing in contradistinction to the commonly accepted belief that business success and an honored naine cannot be won simultaneously.
ALEXANDER PEEBLES THOMSON.
Alexander Peebles Thomson, president of the Partridge-Thomson Company, grading contractors and dealers in coal and feed, has in this connection built up a business of considerable proportions and has thereby won a place among those who are contributing in substantial measure to the commercial improvement of Omaha. He was born in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland, February 23, 1850, a son of Mathew and Elizabeth (Riddell) Thomson, who were also natives of the same country, where they spent their entire lives, the father's business being that of hotel keeper. Their family numbered three children, Mathew, Annie and Alexan- der, who reached adult age, but the first two are now deceased.
Alexander P. Thomson acquired a common school education in Scotland and when a youth of sixteen years started out to provide for his own support. He studied telegraphy and for five years was connected with the Caledonian Railroad of Scotland. In June, 1872, he arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, an entire stranger and immediately took up a homestead of eighty acres in Clay county but farmed for only six weeks. He did not find the occupation congenial and instead sought employment with the Burlington Railroad Company, starting as a laborer in filling coal buckets. He continued with the company thirty-one years, during which period he filled various positions, each change indicating advance made, and during the last six years of his connection with the railroad he was traveling auditor. After leaving the railroad service he entered the firm of Partridge & Shelly, coal dealers, becoming the junior member, the name becoming the Partridge, Shelly. Thomson Company. Later Mr. Shelly withdrew and the firm became the Part- ridge-Thomson Company, and continued as such until May, 1916, since which time he has been sole proprietor, although he conducts the business under the old firm style. He has a large retail trade in coal, ice and feed and is also conducting an extensive grading contracting business. The Partridge-Thomson Company was incorporated and its present officers are : A. P. Thomson, president ; J. J. Thom- son, vice president ; and Mathew A. Thomson, secretary.
On the 21st of June, 1872, Mr. Thomson was married in Arbroath, Scotland, to Miss Margaret Leslie. a native of that place and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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Peter Leslie, who came to America with Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and passed away in Nebraska, the mother dying in Omaha, while the father's death occurred on the original homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have become parents of five chil- dren : Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. Walter S. Squires, a Presbyterian minister of San Francisco, California; George L., who married Jessie Langdon and lives in Seattle, Washington; John J. and Mathew A., who are associated with their father in business; and Leslie R., who is a student in the State University at Lin- coln. John J. married Jennie Waldorf, of Western, Nebraska, and Mathew mai- ried Jennie Barnum, of Omaha.
Politically Mr. Thomson is a republican and fraternally is connected with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. He also belongs to the Builders Exchange and his membership relations extend to the Westminster Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. His life has been one of untiring activity since he made his initial step in the business world when a youth of sixteen. For forty-five years he has made his home in Nebraska and is thoroughly identified with the inter- ests and activities of the west, exemplifying in his life the enterprising spirit which underlies the wonderful development of this section of the country.
AXEL H. ANDERSEN.
Axel H. Andersen, an Omaha importer of Danish books, also owner and editor of The Misteltenen, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 7, 1877. His father, R. Andersen, a native of the same country, is a manufacturer of Copen- hagen, where he conducts a large and profitable business. He wedded Mary Peter- sen, also a native of Denmark, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom Axel H. is the third. The son pursued his education in the public and high schools of Copenhagen and also attended private schools. When a lad of fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the dry goods trade, at which he worked until seventeen years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic alone to the new world, attracted by the business conditions of this country. He made his way to Chicago an entire stranger and was first employed at gardening. Not long afterward he secured a position in a retail grocery store and later was employed in a dry goods establishment, in which he continued for four years.
Removing to Omaha, Mr. Andersen became a resident of this city in 1898 and was with the Bennett Company retail department store. He afterward spent three years in travel throughout the Rocky Mountain states and on his return to Omaha in 1903 he became editor and business manager of the Folketidende, so acting until the paper was discontinued. Mr. Andersen then became associated with Sophus F. Neble as editor of the Danish Pioneer, in which connection he continued for ten years. In 1913 he entered his present business, in which he has been quite successful. He is now publisher of The Misteltenen and also importer of Danish books as well as associate editor of the Danish Brotherhood's official publication with headquarters in Omaha.
On the 17th of April, 1909, Mr. Andersen was married to Miss Helen Freder- icksen, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and a daughter of the late R. T. Freder- icksen, an early settler of Omaha and a leading and influential citizen. He was a prominent Mason, belonging to St. John's Lodge, and for years was editor of the Danish Pioneer. He passed away in Omaha in 1912, at the age of forty-eight years, after a residence of about twenty-five years in Omaha. He first made his way to Kansas City when at the age of seventeen years he came to the new world. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Anna Mailand, is still living in Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen have a son, Donald R., born January 8, 1911.
Politically Mr. Andersen is a democrat where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot. Fraternally he is a Mason, having become a member of the order in Omaha in 1913. He is also identified with the Danish
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Brotherhood and is secretary of one of the local organizations. When he arrived in the United States he had a cash capital of but two dollars. Whatever success he has since achieved, and he is now one of the substantial citizens of eastern Nebraska, is attributable entirely to his own labors, his commendable ambition and his unfaltering industry.
EMIL FRANTA.
Emil Franta, operating in real estate circles in Omaha, makes a specialty of handling farm lands and ranches and in this connection has done much toward the development of his state by securing favorable locations for homeseekers and thus bringing to the state a desirable class of citizens. He was born in New York city, July 12, 1874, a son of John and Elizabeth (Lieberman) Franta, who are natives of Bohemia, whence the former came to America in 1866 and the latter in 1863. Mr. Franta resided in New York city for some time and became prominent in musical circles there. In 1888 he removed to Crete, where he continued to devote his life to musical interests. He still resides in Crete at the age of ninety years, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-seven.
Emil Franta was the seventh in their family of nine children. In his youthful days he was a pupil in the New York city schools and in his boyhood became driver of a wagon for an express company. Later he was employed by William Wickey & Company of New York city and at Crete, Nebraska, he worked in a store for a tine. Later he devoted seven years to the occupation of farming and in 1898 he came to Omaha, where he took up contracting and carpenter work, having prev- iously learned the trade in Crete. In Omaha he secured a position with the Bur- lington Railroad and afterward with the Union Pacific, remaining in the shops for a year; when he took up building lines, being especially active in the building of residences. It was a rather logical step therefore into the land and real estate busi- ness, in which he is now engaged, and while he negotiates sales of city realty, he is making a specialty of handling ranch and farm property.
On the 12th of February, 1901, Mr. Franta was married to Miss Mary Her- marker, of Omaha, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hermarker, and they have one child, Mary J., who was born in South Omaha in 1905. Mr. Franta has made a creditable record in business circles, for starting out in life at an early age empty handed, he has steadily progressed in every field of endeavor to which he has turned his efforts and attention and has gradually reached the creditable posi- tion which he now occupies in real estate circles in Omaha.
CHARLES REX KENNEDY, M. D.
Dr. Charles Rex Kennedy, a well known surgeon of Omaha, was born in Platts- mouth, Nebraska, March 25, 1882, and represents one of the pioneer families of the state, his father, Ezekiel W. Kennedy, having come to Nebraska during the period of its early development. He was born in Indiana in 1828 but was married in this state to Allie Colvin, a native of Union county, Ohio. He had come to the west about 1860, settling in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he passed away in 1905, and his widow, surviving him for more than a decade, departed this life in Omaha in 1916.
At the usual age Dr. Kennedy became a pupil in the public schools of Platts- mouth and passed through consecutive grades to the high school. At length he determined upon the practice of medicine and surgery as a life work and matricu- lated in the medical department of the University of Nebraska, from which he was graduated in 1905. Through the following year he served as interne in the
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Nebraska Methodist Episcopal Hospital and then entered upon the private prac- tice of his profession, since which time he has specialized in general surgery, in which field he has displayed marked skill and ability. He is now assistant surgeon to the Nebraska Methodist Hospital and local surgeon for the Union Pacific Rail- way Company. He is likewise urologist for the Douglas County Hospital and is associate professor of surgery in charge of the genito-urinary department of the medical department of the Nebraska State University at Omaha. He belongs to the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Associa- tion, the American Medical Association, the Missouri Valley Medical Society and the Association of Railway Surgeons and is a fellow of the College of Surgeons of the United States.
On the 25th of December, 1909, at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Dr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Annabelle Daggett, daughter of Daniel D. and Mary (Savage) Daggett. They have a son, John Charles, born May 30, 1911. Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy attend the Methodist Episcopal church and in his political views he is a republican. He belongs to the Nu Sigma Nu, a college fraternity, and he has membership relations with the Carter Lake Club, the Athletic Club of Omaha and the Young Men's Christian Association. These connections indicate clearly the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. He is a man of up- right character who holds to high ideals in private life as well as in professional connections, and his ability has advanced him steadily until he now occupies ? most creditable and enviable position as one of the younger surgeons of the state.
CONRAD GEORGE FISHER.
Conrad George Fisher, deceased, was the pioneer in the meat packing industry in Omaha. His life covered wide and varied experiences as soldier, miner, packer and ranchman and reached out along lines of usefulness, benefiting many while promoting his individual business affairs. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in Zanesville, Muskingum county, on the 31st of July, 1844. His father, John George Fisher, was born November 18, 1804, a native of Baden, Germany, and died July 12, 1883, in Zanesville, Ohio. His mother was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Eberlien, was born in Saxony, Germany, October 17, 1808, and died in Zanesville, March 7, 1872. She was married in Baltimore, Maryland, June 10, 1837. Of this union eight children were born, of whom six lived to manhood and womanhood, Conrad George, the fourth of the family, being the only son to reach adult age. His sisters were: Mrs. Elizabeth Burk- halter, of White Cloud, Kansas, who died October 11, 1916; Mrs. Maria Hut- maker, of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Kate Hankinson, of Zanesville, Ohio; Mrs. Frances (Fisher) Fisher, of Omaha, who died September 15, 1900; and Mrs. Susan E. Phillips, of Portland, Oregon.
John George Fisher was a harness maker and also a merchant. When Conrad Fisher was but five years of age his father would frequently take him to his place of business and taught him to stitch, as all work in that line was then done by hand. When the little fellow grew sleepy his father would lay him on a side of leather under the work table and there he would take his nap. When he was nine years of age he made a beautiful rolled leather riding bridle as a Christmas present for his uncle which took the premium at the fair. In later years, when he was the owner of many horses and other stock, his knowl- edge of the trade gave him great satisfaction and afforded comfortable harness for his teams. When old enough to enter school he began his education, but would work in his father's shop both before and after the school session, ofttimes until nine o'clock at night. After those hours all the money he made at odd jobs was his. His mother added to his little savings and finally he had some money to loan. All through his life he was a careful, saving man.
CONRAD G. FISHER
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Conrad G. Fisher was not quite seventeen years of age when, in response to the country's call for troops, he enlisted for three years at Zanesville in 1861, from Muskingum county, Ohio. He really enlisted in the early part of the summer but the time was equalized and many boys did not get credit for the full time enlisted. Therefore his record shows him enlisted September 20, 1861, which makes him somewhat over seventeen years, but he enlisted some months before he was seventeen years of age. He was mustered into the United States service at Camp Goddard, in Zanesville, as a private of Com- pany A, Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Robert W. P. Muse and Colonel John F. De Coursey. For several months the regiment was stationed at Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, Ohio, and actively engaged in drill work. On the 20th of October they started for the front, reaching Lexington, Kentucky, January 12, 1862, and were then engaged in repairing and building military roads in order to convey supplies to General Thomas' forces at Mill Springs. The battle there was fought on the 19th of January, 1862, and won January 3Ist. The regiment then marched to Loudon, arriving at Cumberland Ford on the 12th of February. A reconnaissance in force was made toward Cumberland Gap and the regiment was brigaded with the Forty-second Ohio . and the Twenty-second Kentucky, forming the Twenty-sixth Brigade, Seventh Division, Army of the Ohio, under command of Brigadier General George W. Morgan. On the 28th of April there was a brisk fight with the enemy on the top of Cumberland mountain. On the morning of June 17th the regiment marched up Powell's valley to the rear of Cumberland Gap, when it was dis- covered that the enemy had abandoned that stronghold and retreated toward Knoxville, Tennessee. The Sixteenth was the first to enter the enemy's aban- doned intrenchments and raise the national colors. On the 6th of August the regiment was ordered to relieve the Fourteenth Kentucky at Tazewell and par- ticipate in heavy skirmishing. The supplies having been almost completely exhausted, General Morgan ordered a retreat toward the Ohio river and the suffering of the men on this march was very severe. On the 3d of October the command arrived at Greenupsburg, Kentucky, on the Ohio river. Utterly worn out, ragged, sleeveless, their appearance was forlorn in the extreme. The regi- ment then moved to Charleston, Virginia, and to Point Pleasant, Virginia, where it embarked for Memphis, Tennessee. On the 20th of December it moved with Sherman's command on transports to the rear of Vicksburg and participated on December 29, 1862, in the disastrous assault of Chickasaw Bayou, in which affair the regiment suffered terribly. Conrad G. Fisher was in action at Mill Springs, Kentucky, and in all the other engagements of his regiment until he received a gunshot wound in the right forearm, breaking the small bones of the arm, at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, December 29, 1862. He was sent to the hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, where he was treated for about three months and dis- charged 011 account of the wound. He was always at his post of duty, achieving a gallant record for meritorious service and soldierly conduct at all times. He was honorably discharged at Paducah, April 9, 1863, by a surgeon's certificate of disability on account of a gunshot wound. For sixteen years after his discharge the pieces of shattered bone came out. This, aside from great suffering, caused him many times to go out of business and into the saddle in buying and selling stock.
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