USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 64
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range, enabling him to quickly, readily and accurately judge the value of live stock presented for sale.
On the 5th of December, 1900, Mr. Tillotson was united in marriage to Miss Olive P. Waddell, of Emporia, Kansas, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Waddell, are well known and prominent people of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Tillotson have two children: Allen W., who was born January 16, 1905, and is now attending school in Omaha, and Marjorie, born December 13, 1912.
In his political views Mr. Tillotson is a republican, well versed on the ques- tions and issues of the day but not an office seeker. He has attained high rank in Masonry, having taken the Scottish Rite degrees up to and including the thirty- second, and he has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise identified with the Elks, the Modern Woodmen and the Royal Arcanum. He also has membership in the Seymour Lake Country Club, in the Omaha Athletic Club and still other social organizations. The life record of Mr. Tillotson at every point has been creditable. Starting out when a youth of fifteen to make his own way in the world, he came to a full realization on the western plains of the fact that only personal worth and merit count as real assets in life. He learned the effectiveness of untiring industry, close appli- cation and perseverance, doing thoroughly everything that he undertook, and his life has been a demonstration of the fact that power grows through the exer- cise of effort.
JERRY M. FITZGERALD.
Jerry M. Fitzgerald, county assessor of Douglas county and a resident of Omaha, was born October 4, 1864, in County Tipperary, Ireland. His father, William Fitzgerald, spent his entire life in Ireland, where he followed the occu- pation of farming. The mother, Johanna (Meagher) Fitzgerald. also remained a resident of Ireland throughout her entire life and there reared her family of ten children, of whom Jerry M. was the second in order of birth.
Amid the usual environments of the farm bred boy Jerry M. Fitzgerald spent his youthful days, acquiring his education in the national schools and assisting in the development and cultivation of the home place until he reached the age of twenty-seven years, when in 1891 he bade adieu to friends and native country and crossed the Atlantic, making his way direct to Nebraska. He had no acquaintances here except his brother, James J. Fitzgerald, who was shipping clerk with the Omaha Packing Company and who is now secretary of the Com- mercial Savings & Loan Association. A sister, Mrs. John J. Buckley, has resided in Omaha since 1902. After reaching this city Jerry M. Fitzgerald was employed at manual labor by the Omaha and Cudahy Packing Companies. His faith- fulness and capability led to his promotion to a clerkship and he remained with the said companies for eight years. After his brother became tax commissioner of South Omaha Jerry M. Fitzgerald became first district deputy and later served as head deputy in the commissioner's office, this being his first step in public life. He also occupied the position of head deputy under Thomas J. O'Neal, William Queenan and J. N. Williams, serving in that capacity from 1901 until 1910. In the latter year he was elected tax commissioner and occupied the office for two terms, being the incumbent during the third term at the time of the annexation. He was then appointed by Mayor Dahlman clerk of the police court and at the fall election of 1916 was chosen for the office of county assessor by a majority of over two thousand. His political support is given to the democratic party and he is an active worker in its ranks. During his con- nection with the commissioner's office he served under two republicans, a fact indicative of his fidelity to duty and the appreciation of his faithful service on the part of his superiors. Moreover, he was the only person in a similar position
JERRY M. FITZGERALD
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to be re-elected for a second term and at the tinie he was chosen for a third term he had the largest vote given to any candidate on the democratic ticket. When nominated for his second terin he was absent in California for the benefit of his health and the nomination was made without his knowledge or consent.
Mr. Fitzgerald belongs to the Roman Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Centurion Club. He is a typical representative of the Irish race in their adaptability and fitness for leadership. The merit system has brought him to his present position in polit- ical circles and made him a most efficient officer in the various places which he has filled.
ANDREW B. ANDERSON.
Andrew B. Anderson, filling the position of postmaster at Florence, has been a lifelong resident of Douglas county, his birth having occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, December 8, 1883. His father, Andrew B. Anderson, Sr., was a native of Den- mark and in early manhood came to the new world, making his way direct to Omaha, where he followed railroad work as an employe of the Union Pacific. He continued in that connection until his death, which occurred in 1904, and in his passing the community lost one of its substantial citizens. There were but two children in the family, of whom Andrew B. Anderson is the elder and the only son.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Andrew B. Anderson of this review acquired a public school education in Florence, to which place his father removed with his family in 1896. When his school days were over the son became connected with the postoffice and was active in the rural free delivery service from 1905 until 1910. In January of the latter year he was appointed postmaster of Florence and was reappointed in 1912, for in that year the office was changed from a fourth to a third class office, causing the necessity for reappointment. He has made a most excellent record in office by his promptness, fidelity and reliability. He is systematic in all that he does.
In August, 1915, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Mrs. Grace Miller, of Hull, Iowa, a daughter of Frank Russell, who was born in that state and became an early stage driver of Nebraska. He is now a resident of South Omaha.
Fraternally Mr. Anderson is well known, being identified with several organiza- tions, including the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Aside from his service as postmaster he is a member of the volunteer fire company and has been clerk for the past ten years. His fellow townsmen recognize him as a citizen of worth, always loyal to the best interests of his com- munity, and wherever he is known he is spoken of in terms of high regard.
GEORGE W. COVELL.
The summons comes to one after another and there is a vacancy left in the ranks where before the activity of the individual was working out results for the benefit of the many. The life work of George W. Covell entitles him to mention among the valued and representative citizens of Omaha who have com- pleted their labors and have passed on. He died in the year 1916 after a resi- dence of almost three decades in Omaha. He came to this city in 1887 after having lived for a number of years in Nebraska City. He was a native of Hoosick Falls, New York, and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the schools there he completed his more specifically literary education by graduation from Genesee College of New York with the class of 1857. He afterward began
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reading law and was thus engaged in Maysville, Missouri, at the time of the out- break of the Civil war, when he joined the Confederate army and served through- out the period of hostilities, participating in the siege of Vicksburg and in the last battle at Franklin, Tennessee. He was there wounded and was incarcerated at Fort Delaware until the close of the war. He at one time held the rank of first lieutenant and was afterward promoted to the captaincy of his company.
Following the close of hostilities Mr. Covell became a resident of Michigan and afterward removed to Nebraska City, where he entered upon the general practice of law, in which he continued until 1887, when he removed to Omaha. There he continued up to the time of his death and during that period he was connected with much important litigation that won widespread attention. It seemed that he was ever ready for any emergency that might arise in the trial of a case and he marshalled his evidence with the precision of a military com- mander who arranges his forces for battle. He seemed to recognize almost intuitively the vulnerable point in an opponent's position and to prepare for the defense of his own position. Aside from his law practice he dealt to a consid- erable extent in real estate and laid out the Covell addition near the institution for the deaf and dumb.
In 1873, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Mr. Covell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hewitt, a native of Maryland, and to them was born a daughter, Anna. Mrs. Covell became a charter member of the Women's Club of Omaha but after- ward withdrew from connection therewith. She has been a very prominent and active worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and is now state superintendent of the franchise department. She has worked in behalf of the cause of temperance for thirty years and she will undoubtedly live to see the day when prohibition will find a place on the statutes of the country. At one time she was a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy.
Mr. Covell always gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and three times was elected to represent his district in the state legislature. He was first chosen in 1872, becoming a member of the lower house, and afterward he was elected to the senate. Fraternally he was a prominent Mason, attaining high rank in the order and becoming a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also had membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. Those who knew him best entertained for him the highest regard, for his life record was always one that would bear the closest investigation and scru- tiny. He drew men to him with ties of friendship and respect and he seemed always to call out the best in others. His genuine worth made him widely and favorably known and his death was therefore the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret.
JOHN S. VAN KEUREN, M. D.
Dr. John S. Van Keuren, physician and surgeon of South Omaha, was born January 6, 1872, in Jordan, New York, the youngest in a family of five children whose parents were Robert S. and Martha (Sperry) Van Keuren, who were also natives of the Empire state, although the former was of Dutch and the latter of English descent. The first of the paternal ancestors in this country was originally called Von Bomel and came to America in the early part of the seven- teenth century, settling at New Amsterdam. In succeeding generations, how- ever, the family name has undergone transformation to its present form. Robert S. Van Keuren was a successful farmer of New York and passed away in that state December 25, 1908, at the age of seventy years and eleven months. His wife died August 3, 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years.
At the usual age Dr. Van Keuren became a pupil in the public schools of his native city and after attending high school there also became a pupil in the high
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school at Syracuse, New York. Later he was a student in the Cortland (N. Y.) Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1895 and then, having deter- mined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he entered the Syracuse Uni- versity as a student in the College of Medicine at Syracuse, New York. He won his professional degree upon graduation with the class of 1901 and before the completion of his course lie served as extern with the Maryland General Hos- pital for a year. He entered upon the independent practice of medicine at Ran- dolph, Cedar county, Nebraska, in 1901 but after a brief period removed to Fullerton, Nebraska, and from March, 1908, until January, 1914, practiced at Carlisle, New York. He then located in Omaha, where he has since successfully followed his profession and is now accorded a large practice, the duties of which he performs most promptly and conscientiously, fully recognizing the obligations and responsibilities that devolve upon him.
On the 29th of June, 1902, in Randolph, Nebraska, Dr. Van Keuren was married to Miss Florence Seaverns, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Isaac Winslow Seaverns, who belonged to an old Illinois family and is now living in Randolph, Nebraska, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was for many years a railroad engineer. He married Julia Pinkney, who is also still living. Dr. and Mrs. Van Keuren have a daughter, Mary Carolyn, born in Jordan, New York, July 13, 1903.
The parents are members of St. Martin's Episcopal church of South Omaha and during the period of their residence in this city they have gained the warm friendship of many, so that the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them. Dr. Van Keuren gives his political support to the republican party but has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his professional duties, in which connection he has made for himself a creditable name and place.
J. B. ROOT.
When one thinks of Omaha commercially it is as the great center of the live stock industry of the country. Perhaps no other business has been so great a source of wealth to the city or called forth to greater extent the enterprise and ability of its leading business men. Connected with that business is J. B. Root, who is one of Omaha's native sons, his birth having here occurred on the 3d of September, 1875, his parents being Allen and Julie Adelaide (Goodwill) Root, both of whom were natives of New York and came west to Omaha in 1855. The city had scarcely then been begun. It was only the previous year that the first white family had taken up their abode upon what is now the site of the city. For a time Mr. Root engaged in carpentering and later he took up his abode upon a farm about seven miles southwest of Omaha. He also owned property that included the site of the Fontenelle Hotel and extended along what is now Douglas street. He continued to engage in farming in Douglas county and in the live stock business but disposed of his city property as early as 1880. He began operating at the stock yards in the early 'gos as a member of the American Commission Company. He continued to make his home in Omaha `until 1904, when death called him in the seventy-sixth year of his age. It was after he came to Omaha that he wedded Julie A. Goodwill, who passed away in 1902 at the age of sixty-six years.
J. B. Root was the ninth in order of birth in a family of ten children. He acquired his education in Douglas county and his was the usual experience and training of the boy on the farm and in the frontier town. Eventually he en- gaged in the live stock business with his father in 1891 and remained in that connection until 1894, when he sold out. In the latter year he became con- nected with the hog department of the Union Stock Yards as a representative
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of Teufel & McVicker, with whom he remained for seven years. He later entered the employ of Livingston & Schaller and remained with that company as a director for several years but withdrew on the Ist of January, 1909, to embark in business on his own account. This he has since successfully con- ducted and he is now one of the well known live stock dealers of the city.
In 1907 occurred the marriage of Mr. Root and Miss Ida Dorothy Wohlers, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wohlers, who for a half century have been residents of Douglas county. The three children of this marriage arc: Doris Lucille, who was born in Omaha, December 13, 1909, and is now attending school: Viola Mary, born August 3, 1912; and Jamin Frederick, born March 3, 1914.
In politics Mr. Root maintains a somewhat independent course although he often votes with the democratic party. He does not, however, consider himself bound by party ties and his ballot is governed by his judgment concerning the capability of a candidate. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He stands high in matters of citizenship, for his influence is always on the side of progress and improvement. What he has accomplished in the business world shows the force of his character. He has worked diligently and discriminatingly and, thoroughly studying the business situations and conditions relative to his chosen life work, he has progressed along lines leading to a most desired goal.
PETER BERTRAND HAIGHT.
Prominent and successful was Peter Bertrand Haight as an Omaha business man and the commercial interests which he established and developed con- tributed in substantial measure to the material upbuilding of Omaha as well as to his individual fortunes. He was born in Ionia, Michigan, November 26, 1859, a son of Marvel Garrison and Electra Ann (Cate) Haight. The father was a prosperous farmer who in his later years removed to Omaha and retired from active business, his death occurring several years ago.
Peter B. Haight supplemented his public school education by a business course at Ionia. Michigan, and started out in the commercial world in connection with the grocery trade. He began with a very small store in Omaha in 1891 and gradually increased his stock as his patronage grew and developed until he was at the head of an extensive business with its ramifying trade relations covering a wide western territory with two centers-a wholesale grocery house in Omaha conducted under the name of P. B. Haight & Company and another in Kansas City, Missouri, carried on under the name of the Western Buyers' Association. These, however, constituted only one phase of his business activity, for he also became the owner of two drug stores in Omaha, the Crissey Pharmacy at Twenty-fourth and Lake streets, now known as the Adams & Haight Drug Company, and another, known as the Saratoga Drug Company, located at Twenty-fourth street and Ames avenue. Since the death of Mr. Haight his widow has sold the second one but has recently established another drug store at Twenty-fourth and Fort streets under the name of the Adams-Haight Drug Company. Mr. Haight's property interests in Omaha included a two-story brick building at Twenty-fourth and Lake streets which is still in the possession of his widow. He likewise owned a stock ranch at Parsons, Kansas, on which he engaged in raising fine horses and Jersey cows. He had a ranch of six hun- dred and forty acres in Moore County, Texas.
On the 4th of February. 1907, at Dallas, Texas, Mr. Haight was united in marriage to Miss Eva Belle Hanway, a daughter of Brougham and Sarah Frances ( Pulhamus) Hanway. After finishing school Mrs. Haight went into her father's dry goods store and after his death continued in the business in Texas and
PETER B. HAIGHT
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Oklahoma until her marriage. She is a most capable business woman and since her husband's demise has carefully and wisely controlled and developed the interests which he left.
Mr. Haight attended the Christian church and lived an upright, honorable life, commending him to the confidence and warm regard of all with whom he was associated. In politics he was non-partisan, always voting for the men whom he regarded as best qualified for the office. He passed away July 28, 1908, and those who knew him mourned the loss of a friend whose many excellent traits of character had endeared him strongly to all. His business career, too, indi- cated the force of his character and his capability, for along the well defined lines of trade and commerce he achieved his success, employing constructive imethods and never basing his advancement upon another's failures.
COLONEL MICHAEL R. MURPHY.
Few men in any line of endeavor have gained the prominence or have risen to so high a plane in commercial circles through the merit system alone as Colonel Michael R. Murphy, who is now general manager of all the Cudahy plants. In the packing house industry there are hundreds of thousands of employes, and when one stops to consider that of all these the real leaders scarcely number fifty, it is evident that they deserve more than passing notice in a work of this character, for Omaha has largely been built up through its packing house interests, having several of the largest enterprises of the kind in the world. One of these is owned by the Cudahy Packing Company, with Colonel Murphy at its head. He has grown up with this company, advancing step by step until he is now general manager not only of the Omaha plant but of all the Cudahy packing houses of the country, his association with the company covering nearly forty years.
Colonel Murphy was born in Elgin, Illinois, May 14, 1860, and is a son of William and Mary (Ryan) Murphy, both of whom were born in Ireland. They came to America in the early '50s, settling first in New York, and later they removed to Chicago, afterward becoming residents of Elgin, Illinois. The father during his active career was connected with mercantile interests, and he passed away in Elgin in 1863. The mother was educated in Ireland but was married in New York and spent her last days in Chicago, where she died in 1913. In their family of six children Colonel Murphy was the fifth. In his boyhood he attended public schools and afterward became a student in the Christian Brothers College of Chicago. Following his graduation he secured a position with the Armour Packing Company of Chicago in 1879 and continued in that employ until 1887. Starting in a minor position, his industry and willing- ness won him the attention of the heads of the Armour Company and when the Armour-Cudahy Packing Company decided to establish its main plant at Omaha he was transferred to this city as hog buyer, a very important position connected with the packing business and one that requires good judgment and skill com- bined with years of preparatory training. Colonel Murphy bought the first hogs that were killed at the new plant when it was established at South Omaha. From that position he rose to higher offices until he reached his present place of responsibility as general manager of all the Cudahy packing plants, having under his supervision hundreds of employes and controlling the investment of millions of dollars annually.
On the 30th of January, 1885, Colonel Murphy was married in Chicago to Miss Anna M. Wall, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wall, well known in that city. Eight children have been born of this marriage. John Wall, the eldest, born in Chicago, is now married and resides at Fort Worth, Texas. He has three children: John, Owen and James. Mrs. George L. Laier, who was born Vol. II-27
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in Chicago, resides in Omaha, and has two children, George and Helen. Nan, born in Omaha, is a graduate of the Sacred Heart Academy of this city. Mrs. N. C. Lear, born in Omaha, where she still resides, has one child, Edward Lear. Edward and Helen, twins, were born in Omaha and the former now resides in St. Joseph, Missouri. Katherine died at the age of three years. George com- pletes the family. The sons all attended the public schools and Creighton College.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church and Colonel Murphy is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a democrat and he won his title through serving on the governor's staff. He is justly accounted one of the prominent business men of the city, yet is always approachable, cour- teous and genial. His course has ever commanded respect and he has, moreover, those qualities which make his friendship prized by all who have won it.
BYRON WEBSTER HALL, M. D.
Dr. Byron Webster Hall, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Benson, was born in Villisca, Montgomery county, Iowa, June 26, 1877, a son of Calvin H. and Rebecca (Overman) Hall. The father was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1837 and was a son of William and Nancy (Hight) Hall, who were natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respectively. The great- grandfather was Samuel Hall, likewise a native of Vermont. It is believed that this family was founded in America by one of the original Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower. Representatives of the family served in the Revolu- tionary war, and his grandfather and his granduncles, Chandler Hall and Randall Hall, were soldiers in the War of 1812, being with the command that invaded Canada. They were all of Puritan stock. William Hall, the grandfather, re- moved from Vermont to Maine and there spent his remaining days, following the occupation of farming as well as of lumbering. He lived to be seventy-five years of age.
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