USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 79
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After about a year, however, Mr. Himebaugh came to Nebraska, settling in Omaha in 1876. Here he continued in the grain trade in connection with the firm of Wanzer & Company of Chicago, but after eight months he formed a partnership with C. W. Lyman under the firm style of C. W. Lyman & Company. They built the Union elevator-A in sixty days. Mr Lyman's interest was afterward pur- chased by Nathan Merriam and the firm name of Himebaugh & Merriam was assumed. The elevator-A had a capacity of two hundred thousand bushels and the elevator-B, which the firm leased but in which they had an interest of thirty-five per cent, had a storage capacity of seven hundred thousand bushels. As early as 1881 they were employing twenty men and were handling three million bushels of grain annually. This indicated the rapid growth in the business, for originally their shipment was but one carload per day and in 1881 it had reached eighty-five car- loads daily. Still the business continued to grow rapidly and the firm owned and operated warehouses and elevators in various parts of the state, Mr. Himebaugh thus figuring as one of the most prominent representatives of the grain trade in Nebraska up to the time of his demise.
In Sycamore, Illinois, on the 6th of December, 1864, Mr. Himebaugh was united in marriage to Miss Annette C. Johnson, a native of Vermont, who survived her husband for a number of years and passed away September 1, 1911. They had a daughter, Grace L., who is yet living and who in 1910 became the wife of Oak Chatham Redick, of Omaha.
The death of Mr. Himebaugh occurred in San Jose, California, April 1, 1890, and was a matter of the keenest regret to all who had been associated with him in the various relations of life. He was president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Omaha for seven years and vice president for one year and during his incumbency as president he gave to the organization twelve thousand dollars, which was used in the construction of its fine building. His life was ever guided by high principles and Christian teaching. He was in no sense an idealist or a dreamer, for he worked along the most practical lines for the uplift of the indi- vidual and the benefit of the community at large. He believed, however, in always choosing that which is best and was never content even with the second best. Striving for the accomplishment of greater things, he contributed much to his adopted city not only along the line of its material expansion through his business efforts but also to its moral progress.
JOHN E. JOHNSTON.
John E. Johnston, engaged in the undertaking business in Omaha, was born in Portage, Wisconsin, November 1, 1878, a son of Andrew E. and Catherine (Kelly) Johnston, who are natives of New York and Wisconsin respectively. The father removed with his parents to the Badger state during his youthful days and there resided until 1878, when he came to Nebraska, making the trip with team and wagon, reaching his destination after six weeks of travel across the prairies of Illinois and Iowa. He homesteaded south of Kearney, in Frank-
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lin county, and there resided until 1894, when he sold his property and removed to the county adjoining Kearney on the north. There he devoted two years to farming and in 1906 he retired and took up his abode in Hastings, where he made his home until 1912. He then removed to Omaha and is now enjoying good health at the age of seventy-three years. It was on the Ist of January, 1875, that Mr. Johnston was married and his wife also survives. He is now liv- ing retired, deriving his income largely from farm lands in Kearney county, which he owns. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom five are yet living.
John E. Johnston, the second in order of birth, acquired his education in the public schools and was graduated from the high school, remaining upon the home farm until 1903, when he came to Omaha. After a short time he joined N. P. Swanson in the undertaking business and was in his employ for three years, during which time he gained a thorough knowledge of the business in principle and detail. He was afterward associated with Leo A. Hoffmann, a well known undertaker of the city, for five years, holding the position of head embalmer and funeral director of the business. In 1912 he resigned in order to engage in business on his own account and formed a partnership with Patrick Duffy, opening undertaking parlors at Seventeenth and Leavenworth streets. Not long afterward their present building was erected by the Independent Rail- way Company at No. 717 Sixteenth street, near Leavenworth. They have a well appointed establishment with commodious offices, waiting rooms, preparing rooms and chapel, and also showrooms on the main floor. Starting with a thor- ough knowledge of the business, Mr. Johnston has steadily advanced and is now accorded a very liberal patronage. He is a graduate of the Nebraska Business College and of the Eckels Derma-Surgical College and is a licensed embalmer.
In April, 1909, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Anastasia Keyser, of Omaha, her father being A. A. Keyser, a pioneer of this city. Their children are three in number, namely: Francis, William and Robert. Fra- ternally Mr. Johnston is identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is also connected with the Patriotic and Protective Order of Stags of the World. His fraternal relations as well as his business connections have brought him a wide acquaintance and he has an extensive circle of friends in Omaha.
ANTONY PARSONS, M. D.
Dr. Antony Parsons, actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Valley, was born in Omaha, March 21, 1877, a son of Andrew J. and Martha Lizzie (Svard) Parsons. The father was born in Sweden but when twenty years of age came to the new world, arriving in Omaha in 1869. For more than forty years he engaged in farming near Valley and passed away in that city in 1915. He had long been a prominent and representative agriculturist and reliable business man and he had to some extent taken an active part in public affairs, serving in some of the township and school offices. His wife, also a native of Sweden, became a resident of Omaha about 1870 and was in New England for a short time before removing to the middle west. She is still living in Valley, where she is well known.
Dr. Parsons pursued his early education in the district schools of Douglas county and afterward attended Fremont College and also the college at Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1906 he entered the medical department of Creighton University at Omaha and was graduated therefrom on the completion of the full four years' course in 1910. His first practical experience came to him in a year's service as interne in the Omaha General Hospital. He has since studied
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at London, England, in the School of Tropical Medicine and he spent one year as medical missionary and surgeon in southwestern Africa. On account of his wife's health he returned to the United States and established his home at Uehling, Dodge county, Nebraska, where he practiced medicine for a year. He then came to Valley and has since here devoted his attention to medicine and surgery.
On the 16th of December, 1911, at Newman Grove, Nebraska, Dr. Parsons was united in marriage to Miss Laura Schavland, who was born in Norway and when fifteen years of age came to the United States, making her way to Newman Grove, Nebraska. She had attended school in her native country and continued her education in the district and high schools of Nebraska. She after- ward took up preparation for the profession of nursing and is a graduate of the Omaha General Hospital Training School for Nurses. In 1910 she was appointed the superintendent of the Physicians and Surgeons Hospital at North Platte, Nebraska, and following her marriage she went to London and to Africa with her husband. Dr. and Mrs. Parsons had two children but both died in infancy and they have since adopted a daughter, Helen.
In his political views Dr. Parsons is independent but is a close student of the questions and issues of the day and no man works more earnestly or effect- ively for the benefit of community interests. He believes in the "get together" plan, in the federation of interests for the general good of the district and in concerted action on the part of the citizens for the benefit of town and county. He is indeed public-spirited and his efforts for the general good are bringing forth substantial returns. He is now serving on the school board and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Baptist church. Profes- sionally he is connected with the Douglas County, the Nebraska State and the American Medical Associations and he has a very large practice, keeping at all times in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress having to do with the science of medicine and surgery.
ERLE B. BROWN.
Erle B. Brown, engaged in the real estate business at South Omaha, was born in Graham, Nodaway county, Missouri, August 13, 1878, a son of Isaac F. and Louisa J. (Bond) Brown, who were also natives of that state, the father representing an old pioneer family of Missouri, while the mother belongs to an old South Carolina family. He was a stock raiser, feeder and speculator and won substantial success in the conduct of his business affairs, becoming one of the well known stock men of the west. In 1892 he removed to South Omaha. where he passed away in 1898 and where his widow is still living. They had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters.
Erle B. Brown, who was the fourth in order of birth, acquired a public school education and when twelve years of age put aside his textbooks to take up business and since that time has earned his own livelihood. He was first employed by his father in the live stock business. He also sold papers and, like most boys, did various kinds of work. His first position of importance-a posi- tion that constituted a stepping stone to something higher-was with the Ham- mond Packing Company, which he represented as mail clerk for two years. He was afterward with Swift & Company as traveling representative and later as branch house manager for five years, at the end of which time he entered the hog business, in which he continued for a year. On the expiration of that period he returned to the road, being with the Cudahy Packing Company for a year and afterward with the Iowa Hog & Cattle Powder Company as traveling salesman and manager of the business. He continued with that company until January, 1907, when he turned his attention to the real estate and insurance busi-
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ness, in which he has since been actively and continuously engaged. He also devotes considerable attention to raising and feeding live stock, handling from five hundred to a thousand head of sheep and several hundred head of hogs upon a ninety-five acre tract of land. He has still further broadened his activities by organizing the Home Savings & Loan Association, of which he was secretary from the organization in 1907 until April, 1916. He is a man of determined purpose who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He recognizes both the difficulties and the possibilities of a situation and plans as readily to overcome the former as to utilize the latter, while the soundness of his judgment in business affairs is manifest in his continually growing success.
On the 13th of June, 1903, in South Omaha, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Jessie A. Carpenter, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Lintsford J. and Alice M. (Hoskins) Carpenter, both now deceased. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Ohio. During the early days he was official horse buyer for the United States government and continued in that work for many vears. He and his wife were among the most prominent of the early settlers of South Omaha, being the fifth family to locate here, and in addition to his other interests Mr. Carpenter was for many years engaged in the livery and transfer business. Since they have passed away Mr. and Mrs. Brown have erected on Twenty-fourth street, between N and O streets, a business block which they call the Carpenter block-a memorial to her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown has been born a daughter, Alice Ruth, whose birth occurred June 25, 1913.
The parents are members of the R. L. Wheeler Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Brown is a democrat where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, considering on such occasions only the capability of a candidate for the office to which he aspires. Mr. Brown is a self-made man. Perseverance and diligence have been salient points in his character and deter- mined effort has brought him to a creditable position in real estate circles in South Omaha.
REV. WILLIAM F. RIGGE.
Rev. William F. Rigge, astronomer and teacher of physics in Creighton Uni- versity, has devoted his life to the two lines indicated and his astronomical work especially has gained him wide reputation and made him known among the scien- tists of the country. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1857, and in the acquire- ment of his education attended successively the St. Xavier College at Cincinnati, the St. Louis University and Woodstock College near Baltimore, Maryland. He entered the Jesuit order in 1875 and was ordained in Woodstock in 1890 by Car- dinal Gibbons. His life activities have been largely in the field of education and scientific research. For a time he was a teacher in St. Ignatius' College of Chi- cago, afterward in the St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, and in George- town University of Washington, D. C. He has for an extended period been a resi- dent of Omaha, and was one of the original professors when Creighton University opened in 1878.
His deep interest, however, has been along the line of astronomy, but unable to devote his life thereto because of the strain put upon his eyes, he has for a quarter of a century been a physics teacher. In Georgetown University of Wash- ington, D. C., more than two decades ago, he was obliged to abandon regular astro- nomic work because of his eyes, but since then at every possible opportunity he has continued his studies in the field of astronomy. Thoroughness characterizes him in all that he does and his work as an astronomer has gained him membership in the American Astronomical Society and the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, also in the Royal Astronomical Society of Great Britain, the Societe Astronomique de France and in others of less note. He has made a
REV. WILLIAM F. RIGGE
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specialty of preparing eclipse maps and has excelled in that field because of a sys- tem of his own that enables him to make such maps with remarkable speed, show- ing the exact location of eclipses, the time they are visible and other general knowledge concerning such phenomena. He has what is probably the best equipped students' observatory in the country. It is considered an honor and privilege to be invited into this observatory to view the eclipses or other phenomena of the heav- ens. He has under his immediate supervision in Creighton about seventeen thou- sand dollars' worth of instruments, provided by the Creighton estate, and in the school has his own repair shop, being able to adjust and repair most of the instru- ments.
To illustrate the practical use of his astronomical calculations, we may mention Professor Rigge's testimony in a trial in the Omaha courts in 1910, in which a man was charged with placing dynamite on the doorstep of another, so ar- ranged as to explode when touched. The evidence against the accused was en- tirely circumstantial, except the testimony of two girls who claimed to have seen the accused carrying the suitcase near the place at that time. Professor Rigge showed from a shadow in a photograph taken of these same girls just before they claimed to have seen the accused, that they were in error over thirty minutes, since the photograph was taken a mile away from the scene of the intended crime and one-half hour after the suitcase had already been found by the police. Professor Rigge's testimony, based on his scientific computations, formed the principal evi- dence for the prisoner, who was finally acquitted. To prove the accuracy of his calculations, a similar photo was made from the same point and at the same time to the minute, two years later, showing the shadow in both pictures to be in the iden- tical position. This was a celebrated case, the first of its kind in criminal jurispru- dence, and attracted the attention of leading lawyers, jurists and journalists all over the world. Rev. Rigge is perhaps the most widely known representative of the Catholic clergy in Omaha and is frequently called upon to speak before scien- tific societies of the city and state. While his reading has been broad, he has never- theless specialized to such an extent that his opinions have largely become accepted as authority in the field of astronomy.
HANS JACOB ROLFS.
Hans Jacob Rolfs is now living retired at Elkhorn but for many years was actively engaged in business as blacksmith and grain buyer. He was born in Holstein, Germany, November 17, 1835, a son of Joachim Henry and Katrina (Volsted) Rolfs, both of whom were natives of the same country. The father was a prosperous farmer there and, realizing the value of education, provided his children with excellent opportunities in that direction, two of his sons now being professors in colleges of Germany which are allied with Kiel University. The homestead farm-one in which the Rolfs have ever taken great pride-is still in the possession of the family.
Hans J. Rolfs acquired his education in the schools of the fatherland and afterward learned the blacksmith's trade, which he there followed until 1857, when at the age of twenty-two years he crossed the Atlantic to America. From New York city he made his way to Joliet, Illinois, and later worked in Will county as a farm hand. Subsequently he was employed in wagon shops of Champaign, Illinois, and at the outbreak of the Civil war his employer was unable to pay him his wages but gave him fifty dollars in cash and a note for one hundred dollars. He then enlisted for service at the front as a member of Troop I of the Second Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. This was the first cavalry regiment organized in the state and each man had to furnish his own horse and equipment. Mr. Rolfs used his one hundred and fifty dollars for that purpose and proceeded to the front, being with the forces under General Grant in the Vol. II-33
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battle of Champion's Hill and also in the siege of Vicksburg. He was afterward with the Department of the Gulf under General Banks in the Red River cam- paign. He enlisted at Champaign, Illinois, on the 11th of August, 1861, and at the close of his three years' term was honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, Louisi- ana, on the 11th of August, 1864, at which time he sold his horse to the govern- ment. He then returned to Illinois and with a partner purchased eighty acres of land in Will county. Soon afterward, however, he sold that property and in 1866 came to Nebraska, where he was employed as a blacksmith during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, working for one of the sub-con- tractors as a blacksmith and toolmaker. He was located at Brady Island and at North Platte, Nebraska, and afterward at Julesburg, Colorado, as the road advanced. At the last named place he sold his tools and went to the Black Hills country of Wyoming, where he did blacksmithing, while subsequently he fol- lowed his trade in Omaha. In 1868 he purchased land near Pilger, Stanton county, Nebraska, on which he located, but the following year removed to Elkhorn, Douglas county, where he purchased a blacksmith shop which he con- ducted for twelve years. Soon after his arrival in Elkhorn he invested in two hundred and forty acres of land near the town, for which he paid ten dollars per acre, and later he bought forty-three acres more. In 1876 he turned his attention to the business of grain buying, which he followed at Elkhorn until he retired from active life in 1913. He built a grain elevator at Gretna, Nebraska, which he owned, and he also assisted in establishing the first bank in Elkhorn. As the years passed by he prospered in his undertakings and is now one of the substantial citizens of Douglas county.
Mr. Rolfs enjoys the high regard of all of his fellow townsmen and no worthy charity or undertaking ever seeks his aid in vain. He has given liberally toward the erection of churches, also the Knights of Pythias hall and other public institutions, and he cooperates generously in support of many plans and measures for the public good. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he has won his success since coming to the new world, his prosperity resulting from close application and indefatigable industry.
R. F. MARCY.
Alert and enterprising, watchful of every opportunity pointing to legitimate success and conducting his business along lines that measure up to the highest standards of business activity in the present age, R. F. Marcy as a member of the Farris-Marcy Company, live stock commission merchants, is meeting with excellent success in his operations in South Omaha, his offices being in the Exchange building. He was born in Ashland, Nebraska, December 10, 1888, a son of Harry and Kate (Bliss) Marcy, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively. They came to Nebraska in early life and here became acquainted, their marriage being celebrated in Ashland, this state. There the father afterward engaged in bridge building and construction work and became prominently known in that connection. He died in August, 1912, at the com- paratively early age of fifty-four years, and his widow is now living in South Omaha at the age of fifty-eight years. In their family were three children, of whom the daughter Ida is living in Omaha, but Aubrey passed away in 1906 at the age of seventeen years.
R. F. Marcy, the eldest of the family, pursued his education in the public schools, completing his education in the high school at Mead, Nebraska, from which he was graduated in 1907. He then turned his attention to farming and stock raising in Saunders county and in that way learned how to judge stock and place a correct value upon all animals ready for the market. He continued his general agricultural interests until 1909, when he came to Omaha and joined
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T. W. Farris in the organization of the Farris-Marcy Company. Almost from the beginning the firm won recognition as a leading factor in the live stock industry. They have surrounded themselves with an able corps of salesmen and buyers and in fact their business is thoroughly and carefully systematized with Mr. Marcy and P. C. Dixon in charge of the office interests. In the cattle department A. F. Selinger acts as salesman, while Nels Purinton is feeder buyer, with equally competent men at the head of the hog and sheep departments. They work for the interests of their patrons, the number of whom is constantly grow- ing, and thereby they contribute to their own success. They are found thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising and the firm maintains a creditable position in connection with the live stock commission interests of South Omaha.
Mr. Marcy has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Seymour Lake Country Club and also has membership in the Commercial Club. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party and he stands high in citizenship as well as in business circles. His associates and contemporaries in business speak of him in terms of high regard and those who know him in other relations entertain for him confidence, respect and goodwill.
JOHN W. KOUTSKY, M. D.
Dr. John W. Koutsky, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in South Omaha, was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, June 7, 1873, a son of Waclav and Barbara (Horak) Koutsky, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. Coming to America, they settled in Saunders county after residing for a brief period on the present site of Omaha. The father took up the occupa- tion of farming, which he followed to the time of his death. He passed away in South Omaha in 1892 and his wife died in August, 1896, at the age of sixty- three years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four are yet living: Frank, John W., Joseph, and James.
Dr. Koutsky was the fifth in order of birth in the family. He pursued his education in the schools of Saunders county, also in the schools of North Bend, Nebraska, in the high school of South Omaha and in the Omaha Commercial College. His professional training was received in the Creighton Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated with the class of 1904. He at once entered upon active practice and has become recognized as one of the leading physicians of the state. His knowledge of the science of medicine is broad and accurate and he seems to display intuitive wisdom in his selection of remedial agencies. His labors are indeed fraught with good results and he has done much important professional work. He has served as city physician of South Omaha and that he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and scientific investigation is shown through his membership in the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He has also extended his efforts to a limited extent in other direc- tions by becoming one of the stockholders and directors of the Security State Bank.
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