USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 86
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CLAUDE MILTON SKINNER.
Claude Milton Skinner, well known in Ralston as president of the Ralston State Bank, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, July 5, 1877, a son of John and Emma (Likes) Skinner, both natives of Iowa. The former was born in Lee county and was a son of William Skinner, a native of Maryland. The wife of William Skinner, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Ferree, was of Hugue- not stock and a representative of one of the early colonial families of America. The paternal grandparents of Claude M. Skinner rode a single horse across the mountains to Ohio and afterward became pioneer settlers of Lee county, Iowa, taking up their abode in that district when the Indians were still there. He acted as an agent for the government in looking after public lands and subsequently he engaged in farming. At one time he was a large landowner but met with reverses. His activities were a potent element in the development of the district in which he lived and he enjoyed the respect and goodwill of his friends and neighbors. His death occurred when he had reached the age of eighty-seven years. Philip Likes, the maternal grandfather of C. M. Skinner, was born in West Virginia and removed from that state to Mills, Iowa, while subsequently he became a resident of Hamilton county, Nebraska. He after- ward made his home in Aurora, Nebraska, where he died at the age of seventy- two years. He was a criminal lawyer of some note.
In early manhood John Skinner engaged in teaching school for some time and removing to Seward, Nebraska, was soon afterward married in Iowa. He later went to St. Joseph, Missouri, and when two years had passed he returned to Mills county, Iowa, where he remained until 1884. In that year he became a resident of Ord, Nebraska, where he resided for two years, and later he removed to Taylor, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead and proved up on his claim. There he remained until 1891 or 1892, when, owing to a drought which caused crop failures, he removed to Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his demise, passing away Janu- ary 15, 1916. He was a good citizen, loyal in matters of public moment and thoroughly reliable in his business dealings.
Claude M. Skinner was the eldest in a family of four children, of whom three were sons. He received his elementary education at Ord and continued his studies in Taylor county at Aurora, but the greater part of his education was acquired as a student in the Fremont Normal Academy. He took up the profession of teaching, which he successfully followed for about seven years. In 1901 he became a resident of Omaha and taught stenography for one term. Later he turned his attention to newspaper work, representing the Nonpareil of Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a year and a half in connection with the advertising
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department. At the end of that period he was given entire charge of the adver- tising department and continued in Council Bluffs until 1906, when he moved to Omaha and became advertising manager of the Omaha Daily News. He next entered the employ of the Shimer & Chase Company, real estate dealers, with whom he remained until 1908. He then accepted the management of the Ralston Townsite Company and in conjunction with Mr. Shimer platted the townsite, planned and financiered the project and put the land on the market. He brought about many sales through judicious advertising and largely contributed to the upbuilding of the town. In the spring of 1913 he organized the Ralston State Bank, which he expected to open on the 24th of March of that year, but on Sunday night the terrible cyclone occurred which caused the death of nine people, while many buildings were destroyed, including the bank building and all its property. This necessitated a delay in the opening of the bank but in November of that year business operations were begun by the institution. Mr. Skinner was made president of the bank and has so continued, L. S. Packard becoming the first cashier. The bank has had a steady growth and now has gross assets of over one hundred thousand dollars. The present brick building was erected for bank purposes and the bank is well housed, while the business methods of the institution ensure its success. Mr. Skinner has also had charge of the selling of lots in the town and showed his confidence in the future of the place by ยท personal investment. He has not confined his activities to Ralston, however, for he has organized and promoted a number of business projects in Douglas county. He was one of the organizers of the State Bank of Omaha, in which undertaking he interested F. L. Schantz, who has from the beginning been the president of the institution. Mr. Skinner also successfully organized the Burns Baking Company and assisted his brother in organizing the Skinner Manufac- turing Company at Fourteenth and Jackson streets and he has been an active participant in a number of other successful and growing business enterprises.
On the Ist of June, 1901, occurred the marriage of Mr. Skinner and Miss Anna Kramer, of Aurora, Nebraska, a daughter of William Kramer, a pioneer of that state. The children of this marriage are: Zelma Alice, now attending high school; John, also in school; Ruth; and Claude Milton, Jr.
Mr. Skinner was the first mayor of Ralston and by re-election served a second term. He was chairman of the relief committee at the time of the cyclone and his organizing ability enabled him to rebuild the town. He was largely instrumental in installing the present excellent waterworks and sewer systems and in putting in the paving and the cement sidewalks. He has a wide acquaintance in the town in which he makes his home and his circle of friends has become coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. His life has been fraught with good results and he has constantly reached out along broadening lines of activity and usefulness. When the cyclone occurred and practically destroyed the town he did not lose heart but started out to upbuild it again and the sanie spirit of courage and determination has been manifest in everything that he has undertaken.
FRANK E. CRESS.
Frank E. Cress, who for eight years has been manager of the American District Telegraph service at South Omaha, was born in Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, May 11, 1868. His father, Jacob W. Cress, was also a native of the Keystone state and belonged to one of the old families there of German lineage. He became a pioneer settler of South Omaha, and, although he had previously learned and followed the saddle maker's trade, he here engaged in building lines as a contractor and won substantial success. At the time of the Civil war, however, all business and personal considerations were put aside and he
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enlisted for service with the One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained at the front for nearly four years, holding the rank of major. He participated in many of the most sanguinary conflicts of the struggle and was twice wounded. For many years he was com- mander of the South Omaha post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has given stanch support to the republican party, has been an exemplary represen- tative of the Masonic fraternity and is a loyal member of the Methodist church. He wedded Mary Dietrick, a native of Pennsylvania and also of German descent. She is now deceased but the father is yet living although he has retired from business. In the family were four children.
Frank E. Cress acquired his education in the schools of Pennsylvania and followed farm work there to the age of eighteen years, after which he came to Nebraska in 1889 and for a time worked as a day laborer. In June, 1894, he entered the service of the American District Telegraph Company at South Omaha as a lineman, and since that time has worked his way steadily upward step by step, until for the past eight years he has discharged the responsible duties of manager of the South Omaha branch.
On April 25, 1900, in South Omaha, Mr. Cress was married to Miss Amanda Morgan, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Clint and Jennie Morgan, now residents of South Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Cress in religious faith are Metho- dists. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his interest in the city and state is manifest in his membership in the South Omaha Historical Society. He stands for those things which are progressive in citizenship, which are most worth while to the public, and his aid and influence are always given along the lines of progress and improvement.
C. HERBERT COY.
C. Herbert Coy, president of the C. Herbert Coy Seed Company of Valley. has in this connection developed one of the important business enterprises of Douglas county, his ramifying trade connections extending to all parts of the country. He is enterprising, energetic and determined and his affairs are so capably and wisely directed as to make his interests a valuable asset to the business life of his community. He was born in Hebron, Washington county, New York, July 26, 1859, a son of Edward L. and Clara (Bliss) Coy. The father was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts, and acquired his education in the schools of his native state. He afterward took up the wholesale seed business and as a young man crossed the Green mountains to New York, establishing a wholesale seed business at West Hebron, New York. The enterprise proved profitable from the beginning until he was at length in control of a gigantic seed business covering the entire United States. He remained active in that business for more than sixty years or until he retired and removed to Melrose, Massa- chusetts, where he passed away in 1912. His wife, who was born in Belcher, New York, died in Melrose in 1911.
C. Herbert Coy acquired his early education in the public and high schools of Washington county, New York, and the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, New York, and afterward continued his studies in the East Greenwich Academy at East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He then became associated with his father in the seed business at West Hebron. New York, and learned every branch and phase of the trade. That relation was maintained until 1901, when he came west to Valley, Douglas county, Nebraska, where he organized and established the C. Herbert Coy Seed Company. While in New York he had had a great deal of seed grown for him in Nebraska and had thus become quite well known in business circles in the state. He today has an extensive trade and farmers in many parts of the United States grow seed for him on contract. His plant has
C. HERBERT COY
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a capacity of one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of seed corn and other seed and today his shipments go to all parts of the country, while the company of which he is the head sustains an excellent reputation in business circles.
On the 27th of December, 1882, Mr. Coy was united in marriage to Miss Amelia S. Madison, of West Hebron, New York, who was there born and was graduated from the Elmira (N. Y.) College for Women. She is a daughter of Dr. John H. and Margaret (Brown) Madison, the former a native of Vermont, while both passed away at West Hebron, New York, where Dr. Madison practiced medicine and surgery for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Coy have two sons, namely : Laurence, who is the secretary of the C. Herbert Coy Seed Company of Valley, Nebraska; and Howard Winfield, a college student.
In his political views Mr. Coy is a stalwart republican and has served as a member of the town board of Valley and as president of the Valley school board. Both he and his wife are active and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Waterloo and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Those who know him socially find him always approachable, genial, courteous and kindly. Those who know him only through business relations have found him ever just, straightforward and reliable as well as progressive, and the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so worthily has it been won and so honorably used. Step by step he has advanced in his business connections until he is now at the head of one of the largest seed houses of the west.
ROBERT BEECHER HOWELL.
Robert Beecher Howell, general manager of the metropolitan water district of Omaha, was born in Adrian, Michigan, in 1864, a son of Hon. Andrew Howell, who was born in the state of New York in 1828 and when three years of age was taken to Michigan by his father, Dr. Joseph Howell. The family is of Welsh descent, the immigrant ancestor coming to America early in the eighteenth century. Representatives of the name served in the Revolutionary war, includ- ing Joseph Howell, the great-grandfather of Robert B. Howell. Andrew Howell was reared in Michigan and became a distinguished member of the bar of the state. He served on the bench as judge of the first judicial district of Michigan and was also at one time a member of the state senate. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Adelia Beecher Tower and continued his residence in Detroit until he passed away in 1904, while his wife's death occurred in Omaha in 1914.
After attending the high school at Adrian, Michigan, Robert B. Howell was appointed to Annapolis and was graduated with the class of 1885. He remained in the navy for two years, after which he resigned and in 1888 he came to Omaha as an engineer for the American Water Works Company of Illinois, with which he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the engineering and contracting business and so continued until 1895, when he was appointed state engineer of Nebraska, being the first to hold that office. He served for one term and then accepted the appointment of city engineer of Omaha, in which position he continued until 1897, when he entered the navy as a lieutenant in the Spanish-American war. He served through the period of hostilities and participated in important naval maneuvers, entering Ponce, Porto Rico, with the army. After the war he returned to Omaha, where he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has since continued, being now general manager of the waterworks in the city.
During the years of his residence in Omaha, Mr. Howell has been prominent in the public life of community and state. In 1902 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate, in which he served for one term. In 1904 he was made a member of the water board of Omaha and in the same year was
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elected for a term of six years, while in 1910 and also in 1916 he was again chosen for that position. In 1912 he was appointed water commissioner of the city of Omaha and in 1913 general manager of the metropolitan water district of Omaha and so continues. In 1912 and again in 1916 he was chosen in a state-wide primary a member of the republican national committee, and subse- quently in 1916 a member of the executive committee of the republican national committee. In 1896 he was appointed by President Cleveland a member of the board of visitors for the naval academy at Annapolis. He has always given stalwart support to the republican party and his efforts in its behalf have been far- reaching and beneficial.
On the 12th of September, 1905, in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Howell was united in marriage to Mrs. Alice (Chase) Cullingham, who by her first husband had a son, James Cullingham. Mr. Howell is a Master Mason and an Elk. He belongs also to the Presbyterian church and in club circles he is well known, holding membership in the University Club, the Happy Hollow Golf Club, the Commercial Club, the Omaha Club, the Army and Navy Club of Washington and the Army and Navy Club of New York.
J. JEFFERY DAVEY.
J. Jeffery Davey, an architect, has followed his profession in Omaha since 1896, operating independently since 1906, during which period he has executed various important projects, a number of substantial structures standing as monu- ments to his skill, ability and enterprise. He was born in Dover, England, March 17, 1874, the only son of John Davey, a native of Cornwall, England, who in the latter part of 1873 came to America. He engaged in contracting and build- ing. In 1879 he removed to Denver, Colorado, casting in his lot with the early residents of that city. In the intervening period he has become a very prominent and successful man and is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. He wedded Bessie Jeffery, who was also born in England.
J. Jeffery Davey was but five years of age when the family home was estab- lished in Denver and there he attended the graded and high schools and also became a student in the State School of Mines at Golden, Colorado. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of nineteen years, he began the study of architecture and in that connection was employed for a number of years in the larger cities from St. Louis to San Francisco, being connected with some of the leading architects of the country, so that his training and experience were broad and valuable. At length he began practicing his profession in Colorado Springs, where he remained until 1896, when he came to Omaha and accepted a position in the office of Cleves Brothers, while later he was with Charles Cleves, following the dissolution of that partnership. He continued with Mr. Cleves until 1906, when he opened an office on his own account, and has since followed his profession, in which connection his ability has brought him a liberal clientage. In point of patronage he is classed among the leading architects of Nebraska and the west and his ability is demonstrated in the fine class of build- ings which he has erected, including the Plaza Hotel, Hotel Neville, the Flomar Hotel, the Delmar apartments, the medical laboratory of Creighton University and many other prominent buildings of the city and of the state. He has also built all of the Eagles' ITomes in Douglas county and several Masonic Temples in the state.
On the 3Ist of October, 1901, in Omaha, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Davey and Miss Lauretta Boyd, a native of Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. Davey has never allied himself with any political party but in fraternal relations is well known. He has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and is also a member of
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the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Fraternal Order of Eagles and his member- ship further extends to the Omaha Athletic and Carter Lake clubs. His life is guided by his faith as a member of the Episcopal church. He finds his recrea- tion largely in the study of literature and has an extensive private library includ- ing many rare and beautiful works. In all of his life he has never been content to choose the second best and early came to an understanding of the fact that the greatest joy is that which comes through intellectual stimulus.
DANIEL BERNARD BUTLER.
Omaha on the whole has been fortunate in the class of men who have occupied her public offices and today is receiving efficient service from Daniel Bernard Butler, city commissioner and superintendent of the department of accounts and finances. He was born in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1879, and is of Irish lineage. His paternal grandfather, a native of Ireland, spent his last days in Ottawa, Illinois, where he passed away in 1883 at the age of eighty- four years. His son, Joseph Butler, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1829, and in 1845 came to the United States. He was married in Syracuse, New York, and in the year 1885 removed with his family from Ottawa, Illinois, to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in business as a contractor. He died March 5, 1915, having for several years survived his wife, who passed away on the 7th of November, 191I.
Daniel B. Butler, who was reared in Omaha and attended the parochial schools there, continued his education in Creighton University, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He later entered the employ of the Pacific Express Company at St. Louis and in 1901 returned to Omaha, where he secured the position of bookkeeper in the office of the county clerk, serving in that capacity until 1905. He later spent two months as bookkeeper in a drug house in Omaha and in May, 1906, was elected city clerk, in which office he made so creditable a record that he was re-elected in 1909 for a three years' term. Loath to give up his services, the public then called him to the office of city commissioner in May, 1912, and he was re-elected in May, 1915, so that he is now serving for a second term and occupies the responsible position of superintendent of the department of accounts and finances. He has studied closely the questions affecting municipal interests and his aid and influence are always given on the side of progress and improvement. He votes with the democratic party, which has received his endorsement and support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.
Mr. Butler is of the Catholic faith and holds membership with the Knights of Columbus. He is also prominent in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being past exalted ruler of lodge No. 39 and a past district deputy of the state of Nebraska.
UNCLE SAM HEALTH FOOD COMPANY.
Constant development in order to meet changing conditions is the demand of business life of today. It is necessary to continually adapt methods to the transformation that has been wrought by time and man. Every field of labor finds this. It is as manifest in the preparation of foods as in the manufacture of wearing apparel or in the building of houses. Recognizing this condition, the Uncle Sam Health Food Company has placed upon the market a laxative health food which meets the needs and demands of the age, and one of the
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important business enterprises of Omaha is that which is conducted under this name, with Ambrose H. Lee as president of the company, J. M. McGowan as vice president, Peter O'Malley as secretary, and Clem J. Lee as treasurer and manager, the last named having active charge of the business.
Clem J. Lee was born in Waterloo, Nebraska, a son of Ambrose H. Lee, who came to Nebraska in 1869. In 1908 Ambrose H. Lee helped organize the Uncle Sam Health Food Company of Omaha, which is now one of the leading health food manufactories of the country. The business has had a wonderful growth, and has now reached very extensive proportions. Ambrose H. Lee was chosen second president of the company in 1910-he also has a half interest in the patented preparation of the food. Thomas F. Lee, who was graduated from the law school of the University of Iowa, became the secretary of the company and occupied that position until death called him in 1914, when Peter O'Malley became secretary. In 1910 Clem J. Lee became traveling salesman for the company, with headquarters at Kansas City-a little later he was trans- ferred to San Francisco, California. In 1914 he was elected treasurer and manager, directing manufacture and sales of the company's food product. In the preparation of the health food the company has taken cognizance of a condition that everywhere exists-that business men do not take time to properly masticate their food, the process of digestion is accordingly inadequate and constipation results. The company has studied to remedy defects caused thereby, and in putting upon the market the Uncle Sam Health Food it has given to the public a cereal not only thoroughly palatable, but one which aids in bringing about the normal health conditions which are neglected through hasty eating. The product is made of toasted and crushed flaxseed and toasted whole wheat flakes, flavored with salt and celery.
The business has grown constantly until it is today one of the big manufac- turing institutions of Omaha. More than twenty-five people are now kept busy at the plant producing this one product. The plant, which is located at Twenty- eighth avenue and Sahler street, is a large one and is entirely equipped with automatic machinery, closed steel bins and conveyers. In addition the company maintains a concrete elevator of fifty thousand bushels capacity, for the storage of grain used in the manufacture of the health food. The Uncle Sam Health Food has been endorsed by the bureau of chemistry and pharmacy of the Ameri- can Medical Association on account of its nutritive and laxative qualities. It is also extensively recommended by leading physicians and osteopaths throughout the country.
CHARLES HENRY PICKENS.
Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Omaha is Charles Henry Pickens, the president of the Paxton-Gallagher Com- pany, wholesale dealers in groceries and hardware. Throughout his business career he has been identified with this undertaking and his ability has brought him up from a minor position to the place of administrative direction and execu- tive control. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, February 21, 1856, and comes of English ancestry. His grandfather, Jonathan A. Pickens, a native of Eng- land, came to the United States following his son, Jonathan H. Pickens, and spent his last days in Ohio. It was in Cambridge, England, in 1831, that Jonathan H. Pickens was born and after arriving at years of maturity he was there mar- ried to Elizabeth A. Clarke. They came to the United States in 1851, settling at Detroit, Michigan, and after fifteen years removed to Omaha in 1866, finding here a little town upon the western frontier containing few elements that indi- cated its future progress and development. Just before coming to Omaha he. had been mustered out of service in the Union army, having taken an active
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