USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 69
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JOSEPH HAYDEN
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wife of Fred Linder, residing in Bloomfield ; and Lulu, the deceased wife of Char- ley Mills, also of Nebraska.
The first named began his education in the country schools, walking two miles to the little schoolhouse, many times traversing that distance in the dead of winter through storms of snow or hail. During the historic blizzard of 1888 the thermom- eter dropped very low, ranging many degrees below zero. He and three other boys who also lived at a considerable distance from the school, fearing that they might freeze to death before they could reach their homes while the blizzard was raging. decided to remain in the schoolroom, over night. Most of the smaller children remained also with the three larger boys. These three boys took turns in going out to the coal shed for coal to keep the fire burning until the next morning. They had to crawl on hands and knees, feeling with bare hands in the snow for the grass on either side of the path to keep from losing their way. This and various other experiences, many of them of arduous nature, taught Mr. Wellman how to take care of himself and developed in him self-reliance and resourcefulness After completing his studies in the little log schoolhouse he continued his education in the city schools of Howells, Nebraska, where he was obliged to work before and after school hours. Eventually he became a student in the normal school at Lin- coln, Nebraska, where he remained for a year. He first received remuneration for his services while working for a man by the name of Ben Pont on the farm. He remained with him for a short time, after which he obtained a better position with the Crow Lumber & Grain Company, with main offices at Blair, Nebraska, although the company had branches in various parts of the state. Mr. Wellman was stationed at Howells, Nebraska, and remained in the employ of that firm for between two and three years. He then came to Omalia and secured a posi- tion with the Joseph Bliss Live Stock Commission Company at the Union Stock Yards, at forty dollars a month. That he proved capable, efficient, and faithful is indicated in the fact that his salary was raised from forty dollars to two hundred and fifty dollars per month. He continued with Mr. Bliss for nine years and within that period saved considerable money. At length he decided that he would engage in a business of his own, for he felt that if others could profit by his labors, he might do the same. He then joined forces with F. C. Bliss, a nephew of his former employer, and they invested their savings in the establishment of a busi- ness on the 7th of July, 1907. 'They have since become prominently known in the live stock market as the Bliss-Wellman Commission Company and through able management and honorable methods their business has constantly grown until it is one of the largest and strongest managed by any live stock commission firm in the Exchange building. Both partners in the company are men who hold to high standards and they enjoy to the fullest extent the confidence and regard of colleagues and contemporaries. They handle on an average three million five hundred thousand dollars worth of live stock per month, their business having thus reached mammoth proportions.
On the 24th of December, 1902, at West Point, Nebraska, Mr. Wellman mar- ried Miss Katherine Long, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Long of that place, who were early pioneer settlers of Cuming county, Nebraska. The father of Mrs. Wellman is now deceased, but the mother yet survives. For a considerable period Mrs. Wellman's parents were actively engaged in farming in this state but later retired, moving to West Point. Mr. and Mrs. Wellman have two children : Ro- land F., born in Omaha in 1904: and Ralph, who was born in 1900. Both are now in school.
Fraternally Mr. Wellman is connected with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Illinois Commercial Men's Association. While he usually votes with the republican party, he is not an active worker in its ranks, preferring always to concentrate his attention and energies upon his business interests, which have been capably directed. He proved his worth to the firms by which he was em- ployed and gradually advanced step by step until he was able to start out inde- pendently. He has always correctly valued life's opportunities, never placing his
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dependence upon chance but utilizing indefatigable industry as the basis for his success. The business which the firm of Bliss & Wellman controls is now most gratifying and stands as the visible evidence of the intelligently directed effort of Mr. Wellman and his partner.
Mr. Wellman has always been a cheerful giver. Hundreds of his friends have personal occasion to remember his cheerful generosity. On one cold evening he found a poorly-clad newsboy shivering at Fifteenth and Harney streets.
"Boy, you look cold," said Mr. Wellman, "Come in here with me." He led the lad into a clothing store and there fitted him out with a new corduroy suit.
"Honest, you ain't buying this for me, are you?" asked the astonished youngster.
"Sure, what do you think I'm fitting it on you for?" asked the stockman.
With the new suit on, the boy ran home like mad. In a few minutes he came back and found Wellman still talking with the clerks.
"My mother wants me to tell you," said the newsboy, "that she hopes God will bless you as long as you live."
Mr. Wellman is especially fond of horses, having been a horse fancier all his life. For years in Omaha he drove among the fastest and finest pacers to be found. When automobiles began to displace horses on the streets, he clung to his pacers for several years. At last he could resist the auto craze no longer, and he bought a car. In a year he traded that in and bought a second and larger car. But even though he drove cars, he would not part with his horses, but kept from two to three blooded animals in the barn all the time, even though he had to buy high-priced feed for them, and had to go to the trouble every few days to hitch them to the sulky and give them an outing.
SWAN LARSON.
Swan Larson, proprietor of the Nebraska Artificial Stone Manufacturing Company of South Omaha and one of the influential men of that prosperous community, was born in Sweden, May 6, 1868, his parents being Lars and Bothilda Pearson, who were also natives of the same country, where the family was well known and prominent. During the early period of his married life the father there engaged in farming and afterward occupied a number of positions of honor and trust in connection with the community and general government. He was elected commissioner and later by appointment held government positions, becoming an influential factor in the political life of Sweden. He there attained a very venerable age, passing away in 1914, when he had reached the eighty- eighth milestone on life's journey. For some time he survived his wife, who died in 1901 at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were six children : Professor Peter Larson, Ostberg, now teaching in the high school at Rinkaby, Sweden; James, living in America; Celia, Bettie and Hannah, all of Sweden; and Swan, who was the fourth in order of birth.
After attending the public schools of his native country Swan Larson con- tinued with his parents for two years and when a youth of eighteen started out to seek his fortune in America, having heard much concerning golden opportuni- ties offered on this side the Atlantic. He made the long voyage and then crossed the continent to South Omaha, where he arrived in the early part of 1887. He had practically no knowledge of the English language and his worldly possessions included but five dollars. There was no one in this country whom he might call friend, for he was a stranger and alone. He possessed, however, a stout heart and willing hands and he determined that success should be his if it could be honorably attained through indefatigable effort. It was on Sunday that he reached South Omaha and that day he found a lodging place. He retired early that night and arose early the next morning in order to start out on a search for
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employment. He made his way to the plant of the Hammond Packing Company, then the pioneer packers of the stock yards district, and applied for a position, which he secured. He did everything in his power to please his employers and his faithfulness, capability and fidelity won him immediate recognition, followed by promotion from time to time. At the end of three years he was not only re- ceiving an excellent salary but was regarded as one of the most trusted employes of the Hammond Company. He later went to work for the Omaha Packing Company and was afterward with the Swift Packing Company. He worked in all in this way for nine years, with the loss of practically no time, and he then decided to start out for himself, feeling that he had earned a sufficient sum to justify this step. He had incurred no indebtedness and he continued to prosper in his business venture for ten years. On the expiration of that period he was prevailed upon to accept a nomination for office and disposed of his business. In the following election he was chosen a member of the city council from the first ward of South Omaha and was afterward made its president, which position he filled for two years or from 1908 until 1910. On the expiration of this term he declined to again accept the office, preferring to return to active business. It was then that he purchased the artificial stone business which has since been conducted under the name of the Nebraska Artificial Stone Company. Under his guidance this has proven a profitable undertaking, steadily growing as the result of his careful control. It has become an important plant, manufacturing in large quantities, and in fact it is numbered among the leading productive industries of South Omaha.
On the 10th of February, 1898, Mr. Larson was married to Miss Christina Anderson, of Omaha, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Anderson, who were natives of Sweden. The two children of this marriage are: Clifford, born in April, 1900; and George, born in July, 1902. Both are attending the public schools.
Mr. Larson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is one of the active workers in its ranks. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Sons of Vikings and the Stags and is popular in these various organizations. He was one of the organizers of the company that built the Swedish Auditorium of Omaha, one of the leading buildings of the city, and at all times he has been actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. In fact he has been one of the leaders in the up- building and improvement of the city throughout the entire period of his resi- dence here and is regarded as a most influential man and valuable citizen. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way. Starting out in life empty handed, he has achieved success through indefatigable effort and close application. He has never allowed himself to become discouraged by adverse circumstances and steadily, step by step, he has climbed to success, winning not only the material results of his labors but also the respect, confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
PATRICK J. SHEEHY.
One of the prominent representatives of the packing house industry in South Omaha is Patrick J. Sheehy, who is connected with the Cudahy interests, which constitute a most real factor in the progress and growth of the city through contribution to the development of the packing business at this point. Mr. Sheehy was born in Ireland, March 10, 1859, and is a son of John J. and Nora (Griffin) Sheehy, who were born, reared and educated in Ireland. There they were married and continued to reside until called to the home beyond. The father was a prosperous farmer there to the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. His widow long survived him and passed away in Ireland in 1906.
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Patrick J. Sheehy is the only survivor of their family of four children. In early life he attended the schools of Ireland and after his textbooks were put aside he engaged in railroading in his native land, but thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic in 1876 and located in Chicago, where he secured employment in connection with the packing house interests. He remained in that city until 1887, when he came to Omaha as representative of the Cudahy Packing Company, which at that time was erecting its plant here. He has been with this company for thirty years, during which period he has worked his way up through various departments until at the present writing he holds the responsible position of general superintendent of the large interests of the company at this point. He is one of the most trusted repre- sentatives of what is today one of the largest beef, pork and mutton packing plants in the world. He thoroughly understands every phase of the business and his increasing ability has brought him prominently to the front in connection with a business that constitutes a salient feature in the continued growth and progress of South Omaha. In addition to his other interests Mr. Sheehy is president of the Commercial Building & Loan Association of South Omaha.
In Chicago, on the 19th of April, 1885, Mr. Sheehy was married to Miss Alice Cregan, a daughter of John and Mary Cregan, of that city. There are five chil- dren of this marriage. Thomas F., who was born in Chicago in July, 1887, is a graduate of the Omaha high school and is married and has one child, Warren, born in Omaha. Mary, born August 1, 1889, is also a graduate of the Omaha high school and the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney. She is now the wife of Roy Bernard Condon and has one child, Richard. Dr. Joseph P. Sheehy, born in Omaha in 1891, was graduated from the high school and from the Creighton Medical College and is now practicing his profession in Omaha. Cyril E., born in 1896, is also a high school graduate and is now studying in Creighton University. Alice, born in October, 1899, was graduated from St. Joseph's Academy with the class of 1915.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Sheehy belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He also has membership in the Royal Arcanum, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Maccabees. His political support is given to the republican party. Actuated by laudable ambition, Mr. Sheehy came to the new world empty handed when a young man. He determined that success should be his if it could be won through earnest and persistent effort and he has gained his advancement through personal merit. He has never been afraid that he would give to his employers more service than he was paid for. He has worked diligently and persistently and the recognition of his fidelity has come to him in various promotions till he stands today in his present enviable position as superintendent of the Cudahy interests in South Omaha.
ROBERT C. STREHLOW.
Robert C. Strehlow, an Omaha builder whose skill and ability have found tangible expression in some of the finest structures of the city, was born in Germany in 1862 and there learned the trade of carpenter and builder. He had reached the age of eighteen years when in 1880 he came to the new world and took up the work of contracting and building in Cleveland, Ohio. He was sub- sequently engaged in Iowa and in South Dakota, carrying on extensive and important business interests of that character.
In 1886 Mr. Strehlow arrived in Omaha, where he took up contract work. He first built five houses and stores at Thirteenth and Vinton streets and after- ward erected a residence at Thirty-eighth and Charles streets for his own use. He had the contract for the first building for the Trans-Mississippi exposition
ROBERT C. STREHLOW
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held in Omaha, also the contract for the Manufacturers building and many others. He then began putting up property for himself, among his first being the Majestic apartments, a large structure containing twenty-two modern apart- ments. He next built the Strehlow apartments, containing twenty-eight different apartments, and then the Roland with its accommodations for thirty families. He next built the Margaret with twenty-one apartments, and all these buildings are thoroughly modern. The Majestic, Strehlow and Roland are all built around a beautiful courtway with green lawn adorned with fountains and flowers. There is also a tennis court, a playground for the children and a community house which is always open, containing reading room, billiard room, dance hall and other facilities for community amusement. There is also a fine garage for the use of tenants and his property has transformed unsightly vacancies into beautiful residence districts. In addition to the apartment buildings already mentioned Mr. Strehlow has built several houses in South Omaha. He had the contract for erecting the government building and other large buildings at the Pan- American Exposition in Buffalo and his contracts for work at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis amounted to a million dollars. He built the Festival Hall and other prominent buildings and also the Cascades, one of the most beautiful features of that exposition. Mr. Strehlow received, in recognition of his masterful work, a gold medal from the exposition. At the Panama exposition at San Francisco he built all the courts, cascades, sunken gardens and also the ornament work and he also received a gold medal from that exposition. His work has made him widely known throughout the country until he now enjoys a national reputation.
In 1895 Mr. Strehlow was married to Miss Anna Rau and to them have been born three sons and a daughter: Robert and Arthur, who are attending a military school at Delafield, Wisconsin ; Roland ; and Margaret.
Mr. Strehlow has always been an active worker for the benefit and upbuild- ing of Omaha. He belongs to the Ak-Sar-Ben, to the Omaha Club, to the Com- mercial Club and to the Carter Lake Club, of which he is the vice president. He is likewise a member of the Building Managers Club. Politically Mr. Strehlow is a democrat and in 1917 was representative from Omaha to the state legislature, serving as chairman of the committee on public institutions. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and that he maintains a prominent position in musical circles of the city is indicated in the fact that he is the president of the Saengerfest Association, the president of the Omaha Music Fest, the president of various German societies and the president of the Saenger- fest Society of the Northwest. In this way, as well as through his business connections, he has become most widely known and his efforts have been a sub- stantial force in promoting the cultural development of this section of the country along musical lines.
EDWARD WATROUS NASH.
Edward Watrous Nash, whose death on the 22d of July, 1905, removed from life's activities one of the foremost men in the country in his line of business, had been for a number of years president of the American Smelting & Refining Company, a position to which he had been advanced from a humble clerkship, in which capacity he first became identified with the smelting business. Mr. Nash was born in Middlebury, now Akron, Ohio, in April, 1846, a son of Frederick A. and Mary (Watrous) Nash. He was descended on both sides from rugged New England ancestry. The Nash family was founded in America in the middle of the seventeenth century, and later generations have resided in Saratoga county, New York, for more than a century and a half. It was from this branch of the Vol. II-29
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family that Edward W. Nash, of Omaha, was descended. His father was an able lawyer and won more than local distinction at the bar.
Mr. Nash acquired his early education in the public schools of Akron, Ohio, and later pursued a course in Eastman's Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York. During the latter part of the Civil war, while still in his teens, he ran away from home and joined the army, becoming a sutler's clerk with an Ohio cavalry regiment. He declined to pursue a college education and also declined an appointment to West Point, after which he went to Galveston, Texas, where he became bookkeeper in a cotton house. An outbreak of yellow fever in Galveston caused him to return north, and he then went to Canada, where his father was heavily interested in gold mining properties, which finally proved unprofitable and entailed heavy loss.
On the 2d of August, 1868, Mr. Nash was married in Ste. Marie, Beauce county, Quebec, to Miss Catherine Barbeau, the ceremony being performed by Cardinal Taschereau. At that time the capital of Mr. Nash practically consisted of his energy and determination, and, believing that the west offered better oppor- tunities for one of his limited means, he brought his young bride to Omaha, where they arrived on the 27th of August, 1868. He at once set to work to find employment, but three months passed before he secured a position, and when it came it was 'a most humble one. Through the influence of Captain Rustin, he obtained work as a truckman for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, where his faithfulness was soon recognized, and he was taken into the office of Mr. Ham- mond, an official of the road. A year or so later he left the Union Pacific, and accepted a position with the Omaha Smelting Company, a new and small industry, at a salary much less than the railroad company was paying him. Within a few years he was elected secretary and later became treasurer. By rigid economy he saved a few hundred dollars and invested the money in Smelting Company stock. The increase of the business of the company justified his wonderful judgment and ability, and in time he assumed full charge of the business. During his long business career, he acquired interests in mining properties, banks, real estate and street railway properties. In 1899 he was one of a syndicate that purchased a three-fourths interest in the Omaha Motor Railroad Company, of which he was made director and vice president. With the organization of the American Smelting & Refining Company in May, 1898, Mr. Nash was elected president, and was reelected in September, 1900, filling that position until his death, and in that connection he was the highest salaried and admittedly the ablest man in that line in the United States. It seems that throughout his entire business career Mr. Nash never passed an opportunity unheeded. He recognized every chance and utilized it to the best possible advantage. He possesed indefatigable energy as well as insight, and his probity was one of the strong points in his career, he being uni- versally regarded as a man of unquestioned integrity and honor in all business relations. He was a born mathematician and financier. Throughout his life he was a keen observer who read broadly, thought deeply, and, possessing a retentive memory, came in time to be a man of unusually wide information, especially upon everything pertaining to mining interests and financial conditions.
A republican in politics, Mr. Nash was never bound by party ties in the selection of local and state officers, but voted for those men who in his judgment were best qualified for the positions to which they aspired. He never sought nor held political office himself. He was ever a man of domestic tastes, and his devotion to his wife and children was one of his marked characteristics. Of strong character and pleasing personality, he made friends easily and always retained their high regard.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nash: Sadie Virginia, Claire, Fred- erick A. and Esther are now deceased. Mary is the wife of L. F. Crofoot, of Omaha, Adeline is the wife of G. W. Myers, of Dubuque, Louis C. is vice president of Burgess-Nash Company, Omaha, and Frances E. is following a musical career as a pianist.
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Although retaining his residence in Omaha, Mr. Nash in his later years spent much of his time in New York city. He was identified with no fraternities, but he belonged to many clubs and other social organizations of Omaha, and several of the larger and more important New York clubs. He figured prominently in financial circles in both the east and west, and at his death the deepest regret was felt among his associates in the American metropolis as well as in Omaha. For about three decades he had resided in Omaha, and such was the character of his efforts and ability that he contributed much to its business upbuilding, while at the same time he promoted his individual success and advanced the prosperity of the large interests which he directed.
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