USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 85
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It is said that all men have a hobby. Mr. Brodegaard's is perhaps his country home. He was married in 1906 to Miss Mary Nordin and they have two children, Anna Marie and Robert. Their home stands in the midst of a
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few lots just outside the city limits which Mr. Brodegaard purchased some years ago, and there he carries on farming. He has a windmill to pump the water from his own well, a little orchard and a garden that furnishes fresh fruit and vegetables, and before the store opens in the morning and after it closes at night he may be seen at work about his place, taking the deepest interest in all that is connected with its development and improvement. He feels perhaps that the most momentous step of his life was made when he decided to come to the new world, for in its opportunities he has found a field ripe for action, and year by year he has worked upward, making each step in his career a forward one, maintaining ever the principles of honor and industry which were instilled into him in his old home in Denmark and adding thereto the progressive methods of American business life.
JOEL E. GOODRICH.
Joel E. Goodrich, of Omaha, as president of the Goodrich Drug Company, a close corporation, has built up from a very small beginning one of the leading industrial enterprises of the city and has also contributed to the growth of Omaha through his hearty cooperation with the projects of the Omaha Commercial Club, the Omaha Ad Club and the Omaha Manufacturers' Association, of all of which he is a member. He was born in Marysville, Union county, Ohio, August 10, 1862, and is a son of Joel P. and Mary (Elliot) Goodrich, also natives of the Buckeye state. Following the Civil war the family went to Illinois and in 1873 removal was made by wagon from Illinois to Nebraska. They passed through Omaha on their way to Wood River, near which town they located upon a homestead. The father successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits there for many years, was county commissioner of Hall county, and an active factor in the advancement of the farming interests of that section. He died at North Loup, Nebraska, in 1902 and the mother passed away there in 1910.
Joel E. Goodrich is the third in order of birth of a family of six children and his education was that afforded by the district schools. He gave his attention to farm work and remained upon the homestead until his marriage and then began farming on his own account, but after seven years traded some land for a drug store at Cairo, Nebraska. This was in 1888 and two years later he disposed of that business and removed to North Loup, this state, where he conducted a drug store for ten years, taking up his residence in Ord, Nebraska, in 1900. Five years later he came to Omaha and incorporated the Goodrich Drug Company, with himself as president and O. S. Goodrich as secretary. The company began business in a small office in the United States National Bank building, but as their trade grew steadily they found it necessary to remove first to larger quarters in another build- ing and then in 1908 to their present location. In order to take care of their still increasing business they already own a site and are planning to erect a larger building which shall be adapted and devoted entirely to their needs. They now employ an office force of about fifty stenographers and clerks and the manufactur- ing department gives employment to an equal number of persons. With the Goodrich personal work advertising and selling plan they have a great many representatives in all parts of the United States, as their territory comprises the entire country. They manufacture a complete line of toilet specialties and their trade name, "Velvetina," has become well known from the east to the west and the north to the south. Their representatives through the cooperation of local druggists and dealers in toilet goods successfully establish the Velvetina line and such are its merits that custom once gained is usually retained. The big business built up by Mr. Goodrich did not come through any of the regular lines of trade, but instead is the result of an entirely original idea of advertising and merchan- dising a line of goods under an original name "Velvetina," coined, trademarked
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and owned exclusively by the company. The millions of dollars worth of their products that has already been sold in all parts of the United States, a constantly growing business and other evidences of success only prove what can be done with proper effort without any apparent opportunity and in spite of the privations and hardships of early pioneer life in Nebraska.
Mr. Goodrich was married September 24, 1880, to Miss Mabel G. Mooney. Her father died in the Civil war, having gone to the defense of the Union, and subsequently her mother married a Mr. Strong. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich have been born four children. Orla S., who was born at Cairo, Nebraska, in 1881. is a high school graduate and also a registered pharmacist and is now vice president and secretary of the Goodrich Drug Company. Howard was born in Cairo, Nebraska, in 1889, and is a graduate of the Omaha high school. He is now treasurer of the Goodrich Drug Company. J. Emerson, who was born in North Loup. Nebraska. in 1896, was educated in the Omaha high school and the Omaha University. He is now in the sales department of the Goodrich Drug Company. The only daughter, Helen, was born in North Loup in. 1895 and died in May, 1913. She was graduated from the Omaha high school in 1911 and at the time of her death was attending Mount Carroll Seminary, a branch of the University of Chicago.
Mr. Goodrich is independent in politics and has never had the time to spare from his business affairs to hold office. He is a member of the Omaha Ad Club, the Omaha Commercial Club, the Omaha Manufacturers' Association, and the Manufacturing Perfumers' Association of the United States. As these connections indicate, he has great faith in the value of cooperation and through his member- ship in these various bodies not only benefits from the experience of others with similar problems to face but is also able to work to the best advantage for the progress of the community.
ALFRED CORNISH:
Although of late years the great increase in the number of automobiles used throughout the country has lessened to a large extent the market for harness goods of all kinds the Alfred Cornish Harness & Leather Company of Omaha has still retained a large trade due to the thorough understanding of the business possessed by Mr. Cornish. the expert workmanship of the employes of the com- pany and its well established reputation for goods of the highest class. The company has a large share of the cowboy trade of the west and still manufactures saddles and accounterments of the finest and most expensive type.
Alfred Cornish was born in Houghton, Michigan, August 1, 1865, a son of Thomas F. and Jane (Webb) Cornish. natives of Cornwall, England, but early settlers of Michigan. The father engaged in mining in Houghton for two years and then removed to Galena, Illinois. His last days were passed there in honorable retirement from active life, his death occurring in 1881. The mother con- tinued to reside in Galena until her death in 1895. To them were born five children, of whom three survive: Thomas, a resident of San Francisco. Cali- fornia ; Mrs. C. W. Venable, of Galena ; and Alfred, of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the Galena public schools and after completing his schooling learned the harness maker's trade under his brother-in- law, C. W. Venable. He worked at that trade at Galena until he was in his twenty-third year, when in 1888 he removed to Omaha. After spending seven months there he lived for three years in St. Paul, Minnesota, but in 1891 took up his permanent residence in Omaha. After some time he entered the harness department of the Drummond Carriage Company and remained in that connection for seven years, but in January, 1900, bought out the Collins & Morrisson Harness Company, one of the oldest business enterprises of the city, it having been estab- lished about 1856, two years after the first settlement of Omaha. The former
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owners retired in 1900, selling the business and their goodwill to Mr. Cornish, who has since conducted the business under the name of the Alfred Cornish Harness & Leather Company. This concern is today the largest of the kind in Nebraska and its reputation for reliable dealing, fine material and skilled workmanship extends throughout the west. It has manufactured some of the finest saddles and accounterments for cattlemen made and for the past seven years has manufactured the silver and gold mounted saddles and bridles, costing five hundred dollars, which the Union Pacific Railroad gives as prizes for horse- manship at Cheyenne, Wyoming. The uncertain conditions that have prevailed for some time in the leather trade have brought disaster to many houses engaged in that line of business, but the Alfred Cornish Harness & Leather Company has continued to prosper, which is evidence of the foresight, enterprise and busi- ness acumen of its head and of the firm foundation upon which its trade has been built.
Mr. Cornish was married in 1891 to Miss Margaret Hird, a daughter of Thomas Hird, of Galena, Illinois. Mrs. Cornish died in 1908, leaving two children. Cecile, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, is now attending high school and is also an advanced student of music. Alfred F. is a native of Omaha and a high school student. On the Ist of June, 1911, Mr. Cornish was united in marriage to Miss Luella M. Harford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Harford, pioneers of Omaha.
Mr. Cornish is a republican in politics, belongs to the Hanscom Park Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He holds membership in the Manufacturers' Association, which affords its members an opportunity of profiting by each other's experiences and of solving by cooperation problems which otherwise would prove a hindrance to the development of the manufacturing interests of the state. Since boyhood Mr. Cornish has been actively connected with the harness making business and remembers well the days when it was one of the leading industries of the west, since the many emigrant trains crossing the plains required an enormous amount of harness of all kinds and of the best possible material as none other would stand the strain of the long journey westward. When he went into business for himself he had practically no capital, but through the most careful manage- ment and the ready recognition and utilization of opportunities he has become one of the successful manufacturers of Omaha and has acquired much more than a competence.
HON. C. W. BRITT.
Hon. C. W. Britt, judge of the municipal court of Omaha, was born in Detroit, Michigan, October 29, 1864, a son of Cornelius and Bridget (Degan) Britt, both of whom were natives of Ireland. As children they came to America with their respective parents, who settled in Michigan, and there they were reared, educated and married. The father afterward became a cigar manufacturer of Detroit and developed an extensive and profitable business as a wholesale tobacconist, remain- ing in that city until called to the home beyond. He died in Detroit in 1894 at the age of seventy-three years and his widow passed away at the home of her son, Judge Britt, in Omaha in 1912 at the age of eighty-six years. In their family were eight children, of whom the judge was the seventh in order of birth.
After attending the graded and high schools of Detroit Judge Britt took up the study of languages under a private tutor, and is regarded as quite a linguist. He speaks German, Hebrew, Italian and Gaelic. He next entered a law office in Detroit, where he read for some time, and in 1888 was admitted to the bar. He remained in the private practice of law in his native city until 1893 and during that period was elected assistant prosecuting attorney under S. W. Burroughs. In
HON. C. W. BRITT
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the latter year he removed to Omaha and during the twenty-four years of his residence here has become one of the well known and leading attorneys of the city. His has been a successful career at the bar and in 1912 he was elected a judge of the justice court, which position he acceptably filled until 1917, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. In 1917 he became a judge of the municipal court, being one of the first judges elected under the new municipal court law. For six months in 1896 he served as city prosecuting attorney of Omaha to fill out an unexpired term.
On the 26th of February, 1889, Mr. Britt was married to Miss Elizabeth Nash, of Detroit, Michigan, and they have become the parents of three children : Charles W., who was born in Detroit, February 2, 1890, and is now attending Creighton College ; Florence M., who was born in Detroit, September 11, 1892, and is a graduate of the Omaha high school; and Robert Emmet who was born in Omaha, March 9, 1904, and is a public school pupil.
Judge Britt gives his political allegiance to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Eagles, the Red Men, the Moose, the Stags, and Alpha Camp, No. I. W. O. W. He is also prominent in the Knights of Pythias, is a past chancellor of the local lodge and has been representative to the grand lodge on various occasions. He has always directed his energies and efforts along a single line and his ability has brought him prominently to the front He is recognized as a man of scholarly attainments, having always cultivated studious habits, and broad reading has kept him in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. He is a fancier and lover of dogs and a fancier of poultry and has owned some very fine and celebrated dogs of the St. Bernard breed. In order to give protec- tion to dogs he prepared and secured the passage of a law making them personal property.
J. F. COAD, JR. »
J. F. Coad, Jr., president of the Packers' National Bank of South Omaha, has throughout the entire period of his business career been identified with financial interests and his life record is another proof of the fact that no matter what the advantages offered in the schools one must eventually determine, shape and formulate his own character by the development of his inherent powers and qualities. He was born in Nehama county, Nebraska, January 9, 1874, a son of J. F. and Ellen (Leahy) Coad.
J. F. Coad. Jr., the eldest of the family, attended the public schools of Cheyenne, Nebraska, and afterward entered Seaton Hall in New Jersey, being there graduated in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Immediately afterward he returned home and accepted a position in the Merchants National Bank, his duties being of the most minor character, but he applied himself closely to the mastery of his work and rose step by step through individual effort. Upon the organization of the Packers' National Bank he resigned his position with the Merchants National Bank of Omaha and became connected with the new institution. Merit and ability enabled him to advance and he eventually became cashier but after six months he was elected to the presidency and has since filled that position with credit and honor to himself and to the benefit of the bank. The Packers' National Bank is the leading financial institution of South Omaha. It has ever been ready and willing to extend a helping hand to deserving stock breeders and shippers and its helpful policy has spelled success for many of its patrons. Its founders recognized the need of a cooperative financial institu- tion equipped with all the facilities with which to advance the interests of the live stock business in the middle west and at the same time act as the guardian of the funds of depositors. The bank was originally located in an old brick building at Twenty-sixth and N streets but the business grew to such propor-
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tions that a splendid building was erected at Twenty-fourth and O streets in 1908. It is a thoroughly modern bank building, elegantly finished and equipped in a most substantial manner. The head of the bank, J. F. Coad, Jr., occupies a most enviable position in financial circles of Greater Omaha. In 1897 he was chosen state bank examiner and discharged the duties of that position until 1901, when he resigned.
Mr. Coad has been married twice. On the 12th of February, 1896, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, he wedded Miss Mayme Hughes, who passed away in October, 1902. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hughes, prominent people of Council Bluffs. Three children were born of that marriage: Marion, who was born in 1898 in Omaha and is a graduate of the high school; Pauline, who was born in Omaha in 1900 and is attending high school; and John, who was born in Omaha in 1904 and is in the graded schools. On the 30th of June, 1912, Mr. Coad wedded Miss Irene Dyer at Berkeley, California, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Dyer, now residents of that place. There is one child of this marriage, Ernest, born in Omaha in 1913.
In politics Mr. Coad is a democrat but has never sought nor cared for public office. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and he belongs to the Field Club and to the Com- mercial Club. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. He is recognized as one of Omaha's most highly respected citizens and in financial circles stands among the leaders. He is fond of outdoor life and when business affairs permit he takes keen delight in hunting. He has provided a most attractive home for his family and in a word he is a most progressive citizen, displaying in his life the true spirit of western enterprise and progress.
CHARLES ROSEWATER, M. D.
Dr. Charles Rosewater, engaged in the general practice of medicine in Omaha, has also done splendid work in the educational field as one of the instructors in the Creighton Medical College. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1859. His father, Herman Rosewater, a native of Bohemia, was born in 1807 and in 1854 came to the United States. He was married in Bohemia to Rosalie Kohn on the 15th of March, 1838, and both passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, the former in 1878 and the latter in 1885.
In the Cleveland schools Dr. Rosewater pursued his education until gradu- ated from the high school with the class of 1876. He afterward spent two winters in the Wooster Medical College at Cleveland and later attended a medical college at Würzburg, Germany, from which he was graduated in 1879. Later he pursued postgraduate work in Vienna and upon returning to the United States opened an office in Cleveland, where he practiced for five years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Vienna and also went to Prague for post- graduate work. At the end of a year he took up a summer postgraduate course in New York city and in 1903 he was a postgraduate student in Chicago. His identification with Omaha dates from 1886 and for fifteen years he occupied the chair of obstetrics in the Creighton Medical College, of which he is now professor emeritus. Since 1906 he has been in general practice in Omaha and his patronage is extensive and important. He is examiner for the Massachusetts Mutual, the State Mutual, Fidelity Mutual, United States National, Germania, German- American, Equitable (of Iowa), Manhattan Life and Preferred Accident Insur- ance Companies, and he is president of the board of examining surgeons for pensions for the United States, on which board he has served for fifteen years.
On the 24th of April, 1893, in Omaha, Dr. Rosewater was united in marriage to Miss Clara Schlesinger, daughter of S. Schlesinger, who is deceased. They have a daughter, Irene, who was graduated from the Omaha high school in
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1914 and is now attending Smith College of Northampton, Massachusetts. In religious faith Dr. Rosewater is a Hebrew. He is a Master Mason and in politics a republican, but throughout his entire life he has largely confined his efforts and attention to his professional duties, and broad reading and study have kept him in close touch with modern progress and scientific investigation along the lines of medical practice. He belongs to the Omaha-Douglas County Medical . Society, the Nebraska State Medical Association and the American Medical Association and has been secretary and vice president of the first named.
LOUIS F. ETTER.
Louis F. Etter, superintendent of the South Omaha postoffice, was born in Ithaca, New York, November 15, 1868, a son of Fred J. and Flavilla (Hagin) Etter, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of New York. The mother's people were of Scotch and Irish descent and the family was founded in New York in colonial days. Her grandfather was a native of Belfast, Ireland. In young manhood Fred J. Etter came to America, settling in the Empire state, where he afterward met and married Flavilla Hagin. In early life he engaged in boating on the Erie canal and for many years he ran a line of boats on the canal, being captain of his fleet. Later he disposed of his interests in the business and removed with his family to Cambridge, Illinois, in 1876. There he estab- lished a mercantile business, in which he was actively engaged until 1890. He then came to Omaha, locating on the south side, where he continued merchandis- ing until 1898, when he was appointed postmaster, which position he filled from that time until his death, which occurred on the 13th of November, 1906, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in the Thirty-second New York Regiment of Infantry. Later he became a member of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry and while at the front participated in fifty-nine battles and skirmishes, being wounded on two occasions while in action. He went to the front as a private but became quartermaster sergeant and took part in the southern campaigns with the Army of the Potomac. His widow survived him until December 25, 1915, passing away at the age of seventy-two years, her birth having occurred in 1843. In the family were three children: Oscar M., now living in Twin Falls, Idaho; Louis F .; and Fred G., a resident of South Omaha.
Louis F. Etter was very young when the family removed to Cambridge, Illinois, so that he pursued his education in the schools there, completing a four years' high school course. For two years he received private instruction in night school, working in the day time. He then became assistant to a well known physician and surgeon, in whose service he remained for three years, and during that period he learned much concerning the practice of both medicine and sur- gery. Later he returned to his father's home and entered into business with him. Starting at the bottom, he gradually worked his way upward until he had thoroughly mastered mercantile interests in principle and detail. He became chief of the South Omaha Fire Department in 1900, remaining at the head of the department for four years, or through 1903. He was then appointed assistant postmaster and on the 21st of December, 1910, was appointed post- master, which position he filled until January 3, 1913, when Greater Omaha was organized and the general postoffice became that of Omaha proper. He was then made superintendent of the South Omaha office, which position he has since efficiently filled. Over the record of his long public service there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil, his course being at all times most com- mendable and satisfactory to the public. He is likewise a director of the Com- mercial Building & Loan Association.
On the 8th of December, 1897. Mr. Etter was united in marriage to Miss
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Carrie Hudelson, of South Omaha, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hudelson of Tipton, Iowa, and they have three children: James F., who was born in South Omaha in 1898; Harold B., born in 1900; and Lois W., born in 1909, all of whom are attending school.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Etter is a thirty- second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and he also has membership with the Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Brotherhood and other fraternal and social organizations. He owes his advancement entirely to his own efforts, laudable ambition and persistency of purpose. He managed to acquire an education through a recognition of the value thereof, his own well devised plans enabling him to continue his studies at night school when it was no longer possible for him to attend the day schools. He stands high in the public regard as a man and as a citizen and in his official career has ever been faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
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