USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
It was in the schools of Chicago that John Frink Hecox pursued his educa- tion, the family having removed to that city in 1876. He there resided until 191I and in the meantime had gained thorough knowledge of the banking business in principle and detail during eighteen years' connection with the Continental & Commercial Bank of Chicago, in which institution he had worked his way steadily upward until when he severed his association with that bank he was at the head of the discount department. He removed to Omaha to accept the vice presidency of the City National Bank and remained in that connection until 1916, when he withdrew in order to organize the American State Bank, of which he is now the vice president. This institution, capitalized at two hundred thousand dollars, has already entered upon a prosperous existence, its business growing daily, its policy and principles winning for it the confidence of the public, for its business methods are thoroughly conservative yet do not hamper that progressiveness which is symbolic of the spirit of the times.
On the 11th of February, 1905, in Chicago, Mr. Hecox was united in mar- riage to Miss Jessie R. Robertson, a daughter of John M. and Minnie (Boutwell) Robertson of that city. They have three children, Marion Helen, Mabel Jane and Elizabeth. In his political views Mr. Hecox is a republican, and while a stal-
JOHN F. HECOX
817
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
wart advocate of party principles, has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and through that avenue seeks to advance the moral progress of the community. He labors for the material benefit of his city and the upholding of its civic standards as a member of the Commercial Club and, appreciative of the social amenities of life, holds membership in the Rotary and the University Clubs.
J. HERMAN KRITENBRINK.
The spirit of western progress and enterprise finds an exponent in J. Herman Kritenbrink, senior partner in the firm of Kritenbrink & Son, brick manufac- turers of South Omaha. He was born in Germany, September 17, 1856, a son of Henry and Margaret (Droesselhaus) Kritenbrink, who on coming to America settled in Iowa, casting in their lot with the pioneer residents of Lee county in 1859. Before leaving his native country the father had been engaged in the foundry business and was with one firm there for a number of years, becoming superintendent of one of the large foundries of that country. Following his emigration to the new world he took up the occupation of farming and devoted his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits, passing away in 1896, when sixty-five years of age. His widow survived until 1909 and died in Lee county at the age of seventy-five.
J. Herman Kritenbrink was the eldest in their family of eight children and was but three years of age when brought to the new world. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm in Iowa and his education was acquired in the country schools of Lee county and St. Paul, Iowa. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts upon farm work on his father's land and after leaving the parental roof he secured a position at a brick manufactur- ing plant in St. Paul, Iowa. Subsequently-he went to St. Louis, Missouri, in order to more thoroughly acquaint himself with the business of manufacturing and burning brick and there secured a position with William Slinkman, a prom- inent brick manufacturer of that city. He continued in that employ for eight years or until 1877, when he went to California, spending one year in Sacra- mento and three years in Marysville, that state, during which period he worked in various lines. Retracing his steps eastward, he again located at St. Louis and once more entered the employ of William Slinkman, with whom he con- tinued for four years. In 1886 he arrived in Omaha and established a brick-yard and kilns in connection with his brother. This partnership was main- tained for eleven years at the end of which time they decided to divide their interests equally. At that period J. Herman Kritenbrink bought a quarter section of land in Boone county, Nebraska, but after a year sold his farm at a profit and returned to South Omaha, where he purchased the brickyards and kilns of the Parks. Flynn & Burness Company, successfully conducting the business for eight years. When the supply of clay in that locality became exhausted he bought property at 3100 South Thirteenth street covering 121/2 acres. On this he has built one of the largest brick manufacturing plants in the state of Nebraska, his annual output being most extensive. The plant is thoroughly equipped in a most modern manner, every facility being secured to advance the interests of the immense business which he has developed and controls.
In 1885, in Fort Madison, Iowa, Mr. Kritenbrink was married to Miss Elizabeth Friza, a daughter of Christ and Katherine Friza. They have had nine children: Mrs. Carrie Bruning, who was born in St. Louis and now resides in Cedar county, Nebraska : Clement, of St. Louis ; Mrs. Agnes Reara, now of Hammond, Indiana, where her husband is office manager for the Cudahy Packing Company; Mrs. Lottie Pederson, of Cedar county, whose
818
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
husband is a banker at Obert, Nebraska; Alwies, who is with his father in business; Isabel ; and Francis. Two children of this family are deceased, one of whom died in infancy, while Camilla passed away in October, 1898, at the age of five years.
The family are Catholics in religious faith and in political belief Mr. Kriten- brink is a republican. Starting out in life empty handed, he early came to a realization of the worth of industry and perseverance as factors in the attain- ment of success and as the years have gone on he has so directed his labors that his energy and persistency have brought splendid results, his interests being one of the important productive industries of Omaha.
THOMAS LORD KIMBALL.
For more than forty years this name was prominent in the railway circles of the United States. During all this period Thomas L. Kimball's whole energy was concentrated on the advancement of the country's railway interests in the west ; and the only thing that stood in the way of his arrival at the topmost official pinnacle in this service was his extreme conscientiousness, which at more than one point in his career, balked at policies then in vogue and under con- sideration. This unusual moral sensitiveness may have been due to his Puritan ancestry.
His father and grandfather were both soldiers; the latter, Joshua Kimball, fought in the Revolutionary war, and the former, Amos, in the War of 1812. Amos Kimball afterwards "turned his sword into a ploughshare," married Johanna Currier, also known as a strong and exemplary character, and settled down to agricultural pursuits on his farm at Buxton, Maine.
Here Thomas L. Kimball was born, October 1, 1831. As a boy, he was noticed for his mechanical bent, continuous industry, and thirst for study, which he indulged at night, as they relate of Abraham Lincoln, by the blaze of pine- knots; the student quality indeed marked his whole life. At sixteen, having mastered the principles of farming, he had also prepared himself for college, but was disappointed of this by a serious two years' illness. Later he found a business opening at Saco, Maine, with a jewelry firm by whom he was soon estab- lished at Biddeford for a few years of success, winning friends and making a record as citizen quite astonishing in a man of his age. The Eastern Journal, at the time of his leaving Maine to begin the long stretch of his railroad activities, pointed out that record, and sketched his many-sided character in so compre- hensive a way that it is worth quoting. "Never noisy nor self-assertive, young Kimball was a man of broadest catholicity of spirit, yet he was in his quiet way the chief man of his church, superintendent of the Sunday school, an active trustee of the public schools, an attentive director of the Savings Bank, the alderman of his ward, consultor in all town charities, the working man on committees for lyceum lectures, among the most vigorous of the temperance and anti-slavery workers, an occasional speaker at public meetings, often a sagacious writer for the press-a man in fact so trusted for integrity and intel- ligence that had he remained in Maine we may say that we had no position. social or political, that would not have been open to him."
In 1857 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was engaged as publicity agent by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, consequently making a special study of railway conditions and problems. Becoming their general western passenger agent in 1861, he continued with the company, through various stages of advance- ment, for twelve years, with headquarters in Cincinnati and later in Chicago. In 1871 he came to Omaha with Colonel Thomas A. Scott, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who had been prompt in recognizing Mr. Kimball's special talent for the handling of railway problems. He began his connection
819
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
with the Union Pacific as general passenger and ticket agent, and after ten years at that post, became successively assistant general manager, general traffic manager, and general manager of the Union Pacific System, and finally in 1889 a vice president of the company and president of the Union Depot Company. His official connection with the Union Pacific terminated in 1897.
In all these years, through all administrations, during the absence and illness of superior officers, Mr. Kimball came to be looked to as the mainstay of the great road in its various departments. His keen insight and unremitting energy aided greatly in the marvelous growth of that immense system. From his first connection with it he planned and introduced methods of expanding its local resources, as for instance a reduced passenger tariff, and the organization of land-buyers' excursions both in this country and in Europe, to populate the dis- tricts along the railway. He learned thoroughly the agricultural, live stock and mineral possibilities of sections tributary to the road, and encouraged the loca- tion of industries with a view to developing adjacent land. He always urged the addition of a complete system of branches to the main line, and was most active in bringing this about. Sagacious and exacting in his care of the affairs entrusted to him, he still kept a remarkable hold on the confidence and loyalty of the vast army of Union Pacific employes. This was partly due to his personality and man- ner-a compound of gentleness and power that gave him a peculiar advantage in his dealings with all sorts and conditions of men-and partly to the strong human sympathy that marked all his relations in life. It is a matter of history that during his long term as guardian of Union Pacific interests, the employes of that road were the best paid and best satisfied force of any railway system in the west.
On his removal to Omaha Mr. Kimball became deeply interested in the business life and upbuilding of the city. In 1879 he was one of the incorporators of the Omaha Electric Company, and in 1888, of its successor, the Nebraska Telephone Company. He was president of the Omaha Thomson-Houston Electric Light Company, a director of the Union National Bank, a founder of the Associated Charities of Omaha, and was identified with many other large enter- prises and charities both public and private.
In 1855 Mr. Kimball was united in marriage to Mary Porter Rogers, daughter of Nathaniel Peabody and Mary (Farrand) Rogers, of Plymouth, New Hamp- shire. The children of this marriage are: Frances R., wife of George W. Holdrege, general manager of the Burlington System; Arabel M .; Thomas R., a prominent architect of Omaha ; and Richard R., who died in 1915.
The death of Thomas Lord Kimball occurred on the 9th of October, 1899. Measured by years, his was a comparatively short life, but crowded with accom- plishment and with such fullness of devotion and of attainment as is really the record of much longer careers. His memory is honored by those who knew him and those who have but heard of him as an example of the best citizenship, and as one of Omaha's best and most representative citizens.
F. E. COULTER, M. D.
Dr. F. E. Coulter, a representative of the medical profession in Omaha since 1890, has since 1901 specialized in the treatment of nervous diseases. possessing marked ability in that connection by reason of his broad study and experience. Liberal educational advantages qualified him for his profession and Rush Medical College of Chicago numbers him among its alumni. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1860, a son of Robert W. and Nancy D. (Daugherty) Coulter. The father was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of James Coulter, likewise a native of that state but of Scotch-Irish descent. Robert W. Coulter became a carpenter and farmer, devoting his life to those
820
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
two pursuits. In 1843 he removed westward to Iowa and in that state wedded Nancy D. Daugherty, who had located there in 1847. Mr. Coulter passed away in 1896 but his widow survives and now makes her home in Omaha.
Upon the old home farm in Louisa county, Iowa, Dr. Coulter was reared, beginning his education in the district schools, while later he attended the public schools of Burlington. Farm life, however, did not appeal to him as an occupation and with the desire to enter upon a professional career he became a student in Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1882. He has since embraced every opportunity for promot- ing his knowledge and advancing his efficiency and has taken post graduate work in London and in New York city. For seven and one-half years he engaged in general practice in Waterloo, this county, but in 1890 opened an office in Omaha, where he continued in general practice for eleven years or until 1901, since which time he has concentrated his energies upon the treatment of nervous and mental diseases, having studied specially for that work. His opinions are largely accepted as authority upon questions relating to the treat- ment of nervous diseases and his pronounced ability in that direction led to his selection as a member of the faculty in the medical department of Creighton University in Omaha, in which for twenty years he held the chair of nervous and mental diseases.
Dr. Coulter has three children: Marian B. and Roberta W., born of his first marriage; and William J., of his second marriage. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his fraternal relations connect him with the Masons and the Elks. He also belongs to the Commercial Club and is interested in its various projects for the welfare and advancement of the city. Politically he is an earnest republican but has neither time nor inclination to seek public office, preferring to concentrate his undivided attention upon his professional duties, which have grown steadily in volume and importance. Expression of the high regard of his colleagues is indicated in the fact that in 1902 he was elected to the presidency of the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society and in 1909 to the vice presidency of the Nebraska State Medical Asso- ciation. He also belongs to the Missouri Valley Medical Society, the Elkhorn Valley Medical Association and to the American Medical Association and he thus keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age along the lines of scientific investigation into the realms of medical and surgical science.
CHARLES ZEBINA GOULD.
Charles Zebina Gould, active in insurance circles of Omaha, having been general agent for the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since 1893, was born in Michigan City, Indiana, October 31, 1857. His father, Zebina Gould, was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, in 1806, but his father was a native of New York, born in the eighteenth century. Leaving the east, Zebina Gould became a resident of Michigan City, Indiana, in 1856 and in that year was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Rees. They became the parents of seven sons and one daughter, all of whom are yet living, while two of the sons, Charles Z. and Henry R., are resi- dents of Omaha. The father passed away in Michigan City in 1873 but the mother, long surviving, died in Spokane, Washington, in February, 1916, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Charles Z. Gould was a pupil in the public schools of Michigan City and afterward attended Shattuck Military Academy at Faribault, Minnesota, from which he was graduated with the class of 1879. He next entered Trinity Col- lege at Hartford, Connecticut, where he won his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1882. In 1891 he went to Butler county, Nebraska, where he entered the grain business, there remaining for two years, or until
CHARLES Z. GOULD
823
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
1893, when he sold out and came to Omaha. Here he turned his attention to the life insurance business, being made general agent for the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, in which connection he has since continued, and during the intervening period he has steadily advanced his business connections until the interests under his direction are now extensive.
On the Ist of October, 1890, in his native city, Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Miss Annie S. Mitchell, whose father was a native of Scotland. The children of this marriage are: Charles Morton, who was married in Idaho to Miss Nellie Day and has two children, their home being now in Columbus, Ne- braska; Stuart, who was married in Omaha to Miss Helga Rasmussen and has one child, Helga Elizabeth; and Elizabeth, who is attending the State University.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church and in social circles they occupy an enviable position, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. In politics Mr. Gould is a republican. His social nature finds expression in his membership in the University Club and his interest in community affairs is evidenced in his membership in the Commercial Club. He is a clean-cut, courteous business man, who stands high in public regard and who throughout his entire life has met all of the duties and obligations that devolve upon him as a man and as a citizen.
JOHN C. MANGOLD.
John C. Mangold, cashier of the bank of Elkhorn, was born in Bennington, Douglas county, Nebraska, October 21, 1881, a son of Peter and Mary (Glandt) Mangold. The father was born in Dubuque, Iowa, there pursued his education and in the early '70s came to Douglas county, where he took up the occupation of farming near Millard. He secured a homestead claim there and after cul- tivating his land for a considerable period retired from farm life and removed to Bennington, where he opened a general store and in connection with merchan- dising engaged in the live stock and grain business. He afterward established the Mangold & Glandt banking house, of which he has since been the president, having been active in this business for the past quarter of a century. He is also the president of the Farmers State Bank of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and pres- ident of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Gretna, Sarpy county, being thus widely and prominently known in connection with the banking interests of the state. His wife was born in Omaha in 1861 and is one of the oldest living native daughters of the county, representing one of the honored pioneer families. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mangold are widely and favorably known and his business interests establish him as one of the representative citizens of Douglas county.
John C. Mangold was reared and educated in Douglas county, attending the district schools and afterward becoming a student in the Fremont Normal School and Business College. When his education was completed he opened a lumberyard in Bennington, carrying on the business from 1900 until 1907, when he sold out and removed to Elkhorn, establishing a lumber business at than point in 1911. Some time afterward he disposed of his lumberyard and organized the Farmers State Bank at Springfield, Nebraska, of which he was cashier until March, 1915. He then returned to Elkhorn and opened the Farmers State Bank, of which he has since been cashier. He sustains the enviable reputation borne by the name of Mangold in connection with the banking interests of eastern Nebraska, for his policy and activities have at all times been of a character that would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
On the 6th of January, 1909, at Elkhorn, Nebraska, Mr. Mangold was united in marriage to Miss Christine Thiessen, who was born, reared and educated in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1904, taking up her abode in Elkhorn. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children.
824
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
Berneta Mary and Laurie John. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Mangold also belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Elk- horn, in which he was keeper of the records and seal. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and his political faith is that of the repub- lican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, 'as he has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with well earned and gratifying success.
ARTHUR D. DUNN, M. D.
Dr. Arthur D. Dunn, for a decade connected with the medical profession in Omaha, has during this period demonstrated the possession of powers which are most effective in coping with disease and in solving the intricate problems which continually confront the physician. Today his practice is large and important and the wisdom of his opinions is recognized by his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession. He was born near Meadville, Pennsylvania, in the year 1873, a son of Thomas Holton and Diantha (Curtis) Dunn, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state but have now passed away. The father, who was a Baptist minister and devoted his life in part to the occupation of farming, passed away on the farm near Meadville in 1880. His father was a soldier of the War of 1812 and the family is of Scotch-Irish descent.
Dr. Dunn acquired his early education in the public schools of Meadville and later attended Allegheny College, from which he won his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896. In the same year he was graduated from the University of Chicago and won the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. His professional course was pursued in Rush Medical College of Chicago, which numbers him among its alumni of 1902. He afterwards served one and one-half years as house physician in the Cook County Hospital, Chicago, thus gaining the broad medical experience which hospital practice brings. He afterward spent six months as private assistant to the late Dr. John B. Murphy, of that city, and then he devoted a year to further post graduate work in Vienna. Upon his return to the United States he spent almost a year in a mining hospital in Idaho and in February, 1907, he came to Omaha, where he has since remained in the active and successful practice of medicine. He is a director of the Physicians Health Association of Omaha.
On the IIth of August. 1904, in Chicago, Dr. Dunn was married to Miss Alice Gardner Root, a daughter of the late Frederick Root, and they have two sons, Rollin Thomas and Frederick Holton.
Dr. Dunn is a democrat and served as coroner's physician in Omaha for a year and a half but otherwise has neither sought nor held public office. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, the Douglas County Medical Society, the Missouri Valley Med- ical Society, and the Nebraska State Medical Society. He finds recreation from arduous professional cares through his membership in the University and Rotary clubs, of both of which he is a well known and popular representative.
PIERCE C. HIMEBAUGH.
Although more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since Pierce C. Hime- baugh passed from among those who knew and loved him his memory is held in reverence because of his well directed life and his rare Christian character. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Erie on the 9th of January, 1840, and in early boyhood he was left an orphan by the death of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
PIERCE C. HIMEBAUGH
٠٢٢
827
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
Mathias Himebaugh. His elder brother, Orlando Himebaugh, became his guard- ian and afterward removed to Illinois, settling near Geneva, so that Pierce C. Himebaugh was a pupil in the common schools of that locality for several years. Further removal was then made to Nebraska, their home being established about ten miles north of Fremont. After some time the health of Pierce C. Himebaugh became impaired and he returned to Illinois, residing at Sycamore. There at the age of twenty-four years he began operating a flour mill, which he conducted for some time, and for six years he was engaged in the manufacture of flour at Rochelle, Illinois. In 1869 he turned his attention to the grain commission business in Chicago, where he resided until 1875, when he sold out and became connected with the grain firm of Wanzer & Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.