USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 81
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William E. Callahan has spent practically his entire life in this city and is indebted to its parochial school system for his early educational opportunities. while later he attended Creighton College, from which he was graduated in 1905 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the employ of his father, who was president of the Callahan Construction Company, and under his direction he mastered every phase of the business in principle and detail so that he was well qualified to take up the work of executive control and administra- tive direction when in 1913 he succeeded his father in the presidency. The com- pany does general contract work in railroad construction and the building of irrigation plants and many important contracts have been awarded them, mak- ing their business one of large volume. Aside from his interests in that connec- tion Mr. Callahan is a director in the Pyramid Lake Mining Company of Reno, Nevada. He is extensively engaged in the construction of highways and is now operating in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, utilizing the celebrated Finley method of road preservation, for which modern scientific system he has the ex- clusive right for Texas, Mississippi and Nebraska.
On the 23d of April, 1906, in Sioux City, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Callahan and Miss Lucile Marie Cassidy. They have become the parents of two daughters, Mary Ann and Lucile Marie.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Calla- han is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He belongs also to the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and he holds membership with the Rotary Club
WILLIAM E. CALLAHAN
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and the Athletic Club of Omaha. In politics he maintains an independent course, preferring to hold himself free from party ties that he may support the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for the positions which they seek. He has been a lifelong resident of Omaha and ever a stalwart supporter of its best interests, while his business affairs, important and extensive, rank him with the leading representatives of industrial activity there.
BURDELL FRANKLIN MILLER.
Burdell Franklin Miller, who since 1907 has continuously been identified with professional interests in Omaha as an architect, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 27, 1870, and is a representative of an old New England family. His great-great-grandfather, Lyman Miller, was a native of Massachusetts and it was in that state that the great-grandfather, Lyman Miller, was also born. The latter served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Celia Wheeler, a daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, who was a native of Massachusetts and removed to Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, where he owned a large tract of land. He was born February 7, 1764, at Rehoboth, Bristol county, Massachu- setts, and was a pensioner of the Revolutionary war, having served from the spring of 1777 until after the capture of Cornwallis in 1781, being discharged at West Point. The father of Benjamin Wheeler came to this country from England about the beginning of the eighteenth century and settled in Massa- chusetts. His descendants included President James, Buchanan and General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate army, the latter with others of his family being frequent visitors to the home of Hiram Miller, in Ohio, previous to the Civil war. Lyman Miller was the father of Hiram? Barlow Miller, who was born in Canandaigua, New York, April 3, 1807, and who passed away September 15. 1888, at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio; where he located in 1833, a pioneer to that section of the Western Reserve of Ohio .. His life had been devoted to general agricultural pursuits. Hiram Barlow Miller married Mariah Deming, born in Williamstown, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, May 24, 1808, and her death occurred at Hinckley, Ohio, March 10, 1876. She was a daughter of David Deming, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, who was born November 12, 1784, and died in August, 1875. Franklin Deloss Miller, father of Burd F. Miller, was born in Hinckley, Ohio, October 17, 1843, and in the year in which he attained his majority he enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, for service in the Civil war, joining Company G of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in May, 1864. Refusing an appointment to the rank of orderly sergeant, he served as a private until mustered out at Cleveland in the following August and he participated in the engagement at Fort Stevens, near Washington, D. C. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary Enright, who was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, March 2, 1845. In 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Franklin D. Miller removed to Albion, Nebraska, and in 1890 came to Omaha, where he has since resided. Mrs. Miller passed away January 29, 1915.
In the schools of Hinckley, Ohio, Burdell F. Miller began his education, which he continued in the high school of Albion, Nebraska. He afterward entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Omaha, being connected with the auditing department for two years. He then entered the freight office of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, being there employed for four years, on the expiration of which period he became connected with the planing mill business in Omaha as a partner of his father-in-law, Abraham Rosenbery. That association was maintained for about five years, when Mr. Miller became connected with the Adams & Kelly Company, sash and door manufacturers, which firm he represented upon the road as a traveling salesman in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas. In 1905 he gave
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up that position and went to the coast, finally settling in Spokane, where he remained for two years, during which period he had charge of the estimating department of the Washington Mill Company. While a resident of Spokane he studied and practiced architecture and since his return to Omaha in 1907 he has been continuously and successfully 'engaged in architectural work, winning a liberal patronage in that connection. Mr. Miller is recognized as an authority on bungalow planning and building, and his book on this subject, with over one hundred drawings, has a circulation throughout the United States and many foreign countries.
In Omaha, June 6, 1894, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Etta May Rosenbery, a daughter of Abraham Rosenbery, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Omaha in 1856 and for years owned at Omaha the largest planing mill in Nebraska. The children of this marriage are Gladys Ethel, Lila Gertrude and Burdell Rosenbery.
Mr. Miller exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and was appointed state architect by Governor Chester H. Aldrich. He served for three years under that administration and for one year under Governor Morehead. He is a broad thinker and deep reasoner and he is now president of the local Theosophical Society. In Masonry he has attained the degrees of the Scottish Rite and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to both the Happy Hollow and Ad clubs of Omaha and is widely and favorably known in this city, in which much of his business life has been passed. His career has been characterized by consecutive progress wrought along well defined lines of labor, and enterprise and laudable ambition have brought him to his present creditable position.
JOSEPH L. BAKER.
Perhaps no Nebraska manufacturer is better known than Joseph L. Baker, whose name has within a decade become a familiar one in industrial circles throughout the country. He has always been identified with big things and his executive force and powers of organization have led to the successful accomplish- ment of his purpose. His attention is now largely concentrated upon the inter- ests of the Baker Ice Machine Company, of which he was one of the company organizers and the principal owner and almost from the beginning has been the directing head. He was born in Dennis Port, Massachusetts, October 11, 1854. his parents being Joseph K. and Hannah F. (Small) Baker, who were also natives of Dennis Port, where they were reared, educated and married. The ancestral line is traced back to Peter and Richard Baker, who came to America from Eng- land in 1635, being the founders of the family in the new world. The father became identified with the fish ,packing industry and in that connection accumu- lated a large fortune as wealth was judged in those days. He became one of the leading business men of Dennis Port, and was also a prominent and influential factor in political circles in his community and state, serving during the last six- teen years of his life as a member of the governor's council, with three governors. His death occurred in Dennis Port in 1885, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His widow survived him until 1901 and passed away in Dennis Port at the age of seventy-four. She, too, was of English lineage, representing a family that was founded on American soil about 1640. By her marriage she became the mother of four children.
Joseph L. Baker, the third in order of birth, began his education in the Friends' School of Providence, Rhode Island, now Moses Brown College, and afterward attended Dean's Academy at Franklin, Massachusetts. After com- pleting his studies he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he secured a position in the office of a large importing and exporting establishment, there remaining
JOSEPH L. BAKER
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in various capacities for ten years, and became an important factor in the management of that business. He afterward decided to come to the west and made his way to Scribner, Nebraska, where he bought a lumber and coal yard. Later he went to West Point, Nebraska, where he continued until 1885, when the business was incorporated together with other business of the same kind as the Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, of which company he was one of the incorporators. He was secretary of that company until 1889, when he retired from the company, taking as his share the business formerly operated by the Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, at Scribner, Crowell, West Point and Beemer, which business he continued until 1891 when he sold part of his yards and moved with his family to Omaha, where he has since resided, continuing in the lumber business with his son along with his other lines up to the present time.
After moving to Omaha he continued his activities by entering into connec- tion with several important business undertakings and corporations, among which were the Baker Hard Wall Plaster Company and the Baker Cementico Company, with mills at Blue Rapids, Kansas, Hot Springs, South Dakota, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Fort Dodge, Iowa. He continued in this growing business until 1900, when his interests in these different companies were merged with the incorporation of the United States Gypsum Company, of Chicago (today one of the largest companies of its kind in the world), of which company he was one of the directors for four years, and his business foresight and ability to handle big things were recognized by his associates, and he was made chair- man of the executive committee of this company and served in that capacity for seven years. He was also a member of the finance committee of that company.
During the years above mentioned, not being satisfied unless he had several kinds of business operating at the same time, he was a member of The Baker Furniture Company, and actively engaged in the furniture business, under that name, also was interested in the farm implement business, and in 1905 organ- ized and gave much of his time, which he is now devoting, to the Baker Ice Machine Company, which has developed into one of the most widely known companies in this line of business in the United States.
In this connection one of the Omaha Papers said, "What Mr. Baker has done for himself and Omaha is a story of one of the big achievements of the busi- ness world. For eleven years this company has made itself known throughout not only Omaha's trade territory, not only the United States, but throughout the world. That this wonderful record has been possible is due to the general- ship of this company's president. Mediocre products would not have done it. Ordinary business ability could not have made it possible. No, it was a per- fect product, and an extraordinary brain-power behind it that sent it to the furtherest cities of the earth and brought back repeat orders for more and more. Ten years ago, when Mr. Baker bought out his partner, the business was small. Today it is one of the largest companies of its kind in the world, making small and medium sized ice making machines known, wherever they are sold, as the best produced in the country. In choosing Omaha as the headquarters for his manufacturing business Mr. Baker has done a bigger thing for this city than probably even he himself ever dreamed of, for his products are in use all over the world and bear the stamp of 'made in Omaha' and thus Omaha is con- stantly advertised even to the people of far distant climes. Branches and agen- cies of the company are maintained in Philadelphia, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, and representatives are boosting its goods in other large cities in the country. Baker ice-making machines are found wher- ever man is civilized. Should a resident of Omaha on a world trip inquire in most of the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa or in the tropical islands of the Atlantic and Pacific, he would find a 'friend' from home in the Baker ice machine. The machines 'deliver the goods' wherever they are in operation,
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and do even more than is claimed for them. The company in the last few years has branched out, widening its scope until now it manufactures ice-making ma- chines for packing houses, hotels, cold storage plants and other big institutions. Small machines for private residences also are among the company's products. These machines are made in the company's factory at Omaha. The Baker Company is one of the highest type of home industry. Through investment it represents a permanent feature of Omaha's industrial life. The plant covers half a block square and means to Omaha an investment of hundreds of thou- sands of dollars. In pay rolls it is giving to Omaha something tangible, for from eighty to one hundred high class workmen, drawing good wages, are earning their living from the company, and these men, under the leadership of such a general of business as Mr. Baker, are among the best citizens of the city."
Mr. Baker is a member of the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers and his scientific attainments are widely recognized, both within and without that organization.
In addition to Mr. Baker's other lines, he has been quite largely interested in banking at different points where he was interested in business, and has organized three banks, together with his associates, at the different points and held the position of president or vice president in each.
Feeling that his large business interests were occupying more time than he should give to business, and as a matter of recreation, he started a stock ranch in Custer county. Nebraska, to which he has gradually added one farm after another until he has something over two thousand acres in one body, on which he raises blooded cattle, horses and hogs, and spends a great deal of time there, when he feels the need of such recreation, and thinks that this has added to his life materially by having the much needed rest which he finds on the ranch. probably one of the best equipped ranches in the state, being supplied with mod- ern machinery of every description to facilitate the work.
In August, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Baker and Miss Lucy Thatcher Hutchinson, a graduate of Cambridge Massachusetts University, and a representative of a prominent Massachusetts family. She was born at Dennis Port, Cape Cod, a daughter of Captain Thomas and Olive (Thatcher) Hutchin- son, of the place. Her father was a naval captain of the Civil war and achieved great honors while in the service. He was born at Salem, Massachusetts, where he attended school. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being eligible to membership in that society from both sides of her ancestry. Mrs. Baker's people on her mother's side, represent one of the oldest families of Massachusetts, the ancestry line tracing back to three brothers, Peter, Anthony and Thomas Thatcher, who came to this country in 1630. Peter Thatcher was a Congregational minister in England before coming to this country. Thomas Thatcher was the first minister of the old South church in Boston. Thatcher Island, off the coast of Maine, was named after Anthony, the third brother. When coming to this country with his family the ship in which they came was wrecked off the Maine coast and all the family. except Anthony. lost. The island on which he landed was given his name.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have become the parents of three children. Richard. born at Scribner, Nebraska, in 1883, is a graduate of the Omaha high school and later attended Williams College, at Williamstown, Massachusetts, and is now engaged in the lumber, grain, coal and live stock business at several points in Nebraska. Mrs. Olive (Baker) Kelly was born at West Point, Nebraska, in 1885. is a graduate of the Omaha high school and Smith College, of Northamp- ton, Massachusetts, and has two children, Harriet Thatcher Kelly, now two and a half years of age, and Jean Thatcher Kelly, an infant. Chester Arthur Baker was born in West Point, Nebraska, in 1891, has completed a high school course in Omaha and later attended Worcester Academy, at Worcester, Massachusetts.
Mr. Baker is a Mason of high rank, having taken both the Knight Templar
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and consistory degrees up to thirty-two, and is also a Shriner. He belongs also to the Woodmen of the World and his interest in community affairs is indicated in his membership in the Commercial Club, likewise in the Omaha Club, Field Club, Happy Hollow Club, Athletic and University clubs, and he has a keen appreciation for the social amenities of life. In a word, he has a well balanced character in which interests are given due recognition of time and attention. While he possesses notable business ability and powers of organization, he has never allowed business to warp his nature through the concentration of his efforts and attention along a single line, but has kept in touch with the trend of world thought, action and progress and is often found in those gatherings where the leaders are met in the discussion of vital problems.
CHARLES WITTE.
Charles Witte occupies one of the fine modern homes of Elkhorn, in which town he has resided since 1893. He had previously been engaged in general farming in Douglas county and later he carried on general merchandising in Elkhorn, but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, January 16, 1857, a son of August and Sophia (Quitzo) Witte. The father was born in the province of Branden- burg, Germany, and there learned the tailor's trade. Crossing the Atlantic in June, 1853, he made his way to Davenport, Iowa, where he was first employed as a laborer. There he was married to Sophia Quitzo, who was also a native of Brandenburg, and who, in 1856, became a resident of Davenport, Iowa. In 1874 they removed to Douglas county, Nebraska, and Mr. Witte purchased land in Chicago township, near Elkhorn. He afterward engaged in farming for many years but eventually retired from active business life and took up his abode in Elkhorn, where he passed away in 1900, having for three years survived his wife, who died in 1897.
Charles Witte acquired his education in the public schools of Davenport, Iowa, and in 1874, when a youth of seventeen years, accompanied his parents to this county. He continued to assist his father in the cultivation of the home farm until 1880 and through the two succeeding years was engaged in farming on his own account in Douglas county. In 1883 he removed to Coding- ton county, South Dakota, then a part of Dakota territory, where he secured preemption and tree claims, remaining thereon until 1891, when he disposed of his property and again came to Douglas county, after which he cultivated the old homestead farm until 1893. In that year he established a general store in Elkhorn, where he continued actively in business until March 1, 1911. He then retired and now makes his home in Elkhorn, where he occupies an attractive residence thoroughly modern in all its equipment and conveniences. He still owns several farms, having made judicious investments in lands which return to him a gratifying annual income. His carefully managed business affairs have made him one of the most prosperous citizens of his district.
On the 12th of June, 1881, at Elkhorn, Nebraska, Mr. Witte was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Jane Hopper, a native of Thamesville, Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of William and Dorothy (Farrell) Hopper, who were born in Ireland and Ontario, Canada, respectively. In 1876 they took up their abode among the pioneer residents of Elkhorn, Douglas county, Nebraska, where Mr. Hopper became a successful agriculturist and prominent citizen. Both he and his wife passed away in Elkhorn, leaving each of their nine children in very comfortable financial circumstances. Mr. and Mrs. Witte have four children. all born in Elkhorn, as follows: Arthur Clarence, who lives at home and cultivates his father's land; Eda Belle, the wife of Charles William Hickey, a physician of Bennington, Douglas county, by whom she has two children,
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Elizabeth Bernice and Roma Alice : William August, a druggist of Bennington, this county; and Rose Alice, who is the wife of George Rufus Cunningham, a painter and decorator of Elkhorn, Nebraska.
In politics Mr. Witte is a stalwart republican, active in support of the party. He has served on the village board of Elkhorn since 1893 save for a period of two years. He acted as clerk of the board for a long period and is now in that office. On the 15th of August, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Elkhorn by President Mckinley and so served until October, 1914. He has been iden- tified with many interests of importance to his community. He is president of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association of Elkhorn and of Waterloo and since 1891 has been a member of the Douglas County Agricultural Society. In 1901 he was elected a member of its board, became vice president in 1901, was chosen president in 1906, again in 1907 and once more in 1914. He has proven a capable official of the society and one who has done much to further its interests. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and has served as clerk in the local camp. He also has membership with the Knights of Pythias and in the Masonic lodge of Waterloo, in which he has twice been master, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, esteem him as a man of sterling worth and as a citizen of value. He has been found as thoroughly reliable in public office as in business affairs and it is well known that his integrity in business matters stands as an unquestioned fact in his career.
GRANT PARSONS.
Grant Parsons, contractor and builder of Omaha and the president of the Nebraska Master Builders' Association, was born in Tucker county, West Vir- ginia, December 7, 1865, a son of Cornelius and Laverna Parsons. The family is of English origin and was founded in America at an early day, settlement being made near Jamestown, Virginia, in 1621. This fact has been thoroughly established, being a matter of record in the "History of the Parsons Family," issued in 1914. The grandfather, James Parsons, was a planter and slaveholder, but that he was a most just and considerate master is indicated in the fact that after the war his slaves continued in his service. Cornelius Parsons was born in West Virginia and became a teacher when but sixteen years old, devoting forty-two years of his life to the work of an educator. He also followed the occupation of farming and he was very active and prominent in political and civic matters, giving earnest support to the republican party. He died in Grant county, West Virginia, March 17. 1914, at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife passed away in 1872.
Grant Parsons, the eldest of their three children, was educated in the public schools of. West Virginia and in the Normal School at Fremont, Nebraska, in which he spent two terms. His youthful experiences were those of the farm bred boy and at the age of eighteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. After serving for a four years' term he was employed as a journeyman for a period of eleven years. In, 1885 he came to Nebraska, settling at Fremont, where he entered the building business on his own account, continuing successfully in that line for eleven years. He then removed to Omaha, where he has since conducted business as a contractor and builder. meeting with growing success as the years have gone by. He now specializes in the construction of concrete buildings and was one of the first to take up this branch of the business in Omaha. He has erected many of the large and impor- tant buildings in this and neighboring cities and states, his operations extending over Iowa, Colorado and South Dakota. Broad experience and close study of every phase of the business have given him comprehensive knowledge of the
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