Omaha Illustrated

OMAHA ILLUSTRATED.

twelve companies, and the following officers: R. W. Furnas, Brownville, colonel; W. F. Sapp, Omaha, lieutenant-colonel; John Taffe, Dakota City, and John W. Pearman, Nebraska City, majors; Dr. Aurelius Bowen, Nebraska City, and Dr. W. S. Latta, Plattsmouth, surgeons; H. M. Atkinson, Brownville, adjutant. The nine months' service of this regiment expired in September, 1863, and thereupon George Armstrong raised the First Battalion of Nebraska

[Oscar F. Davis, now deceased, was among the earlier settlers of Omaha, and was one of those men of strong, high character who left an enduring impress upon the community. Mr. Davis was born in Onondaga county, New York, near the village of Baldwinsville, on the 3d of March, 1827. On growing to manhood he devoted himself to the study of surveying and civil engineering. When he was 23 years of age he sought a broader field and came West, locating at Dubuque, Iowa, then considered an extreme west-
ern settlement, For six years Mr. Davis made that city his home though not always there, being engaged in government surveys over the vast section of what was then new country and is now comprised in the States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. Mr. Davis came to Omaha May 26, 1856, when the village numbered but a few hundred souls, and located here in the surveying and civil engineering business. He was city engineer two terms. In 1867 when the Union Pacific Railroad was nearing completion and its vast grants of land were becoming an important charge, Mr. Davis was entrusted with their management and was so successful that the following year he was appointed land commissioner for the corporation, which position he filled for a period of twelve years. It was during this time that Mr. Davis became best known to the people of the West. Brought into close	THE LATE OSCAR F. DAVIS.	relations with the vast tide of immigration which surged into the West on the completion of the Union Pacific road and the opening up to settlement of the rich lands it traverses, Mr. Davis gave most valuable service not only to the corporation employing him but also to every new settler who had dealings with him, and their name was legion. In 1878 Mr. Davis' health began to be impaired from over application to his duties and he resigned. He established a real estate business in the city in which he continued up to the time of his death, which occurred June 4, 1887, In recounting thus briefly Mr. Davis' career, omission must not be made of mention of his services as a member of the territorial Legislature, and also as provost marshal at Omaha for two years during the war of the rebellion. Mr. Davis was a conscientious Christian gentleman, honorable in all his dealings and respected by all who knew
him. He was a quiet, conservative gentleman, thoroughly loyal to Omaha and firm in his faith in the city's future. His demise was generally deplored. His relict was previous to her marriage with him in Omaha April 22, 1863, Miss Sarah F. Dickinson of Syracuse, New York.]

Veteran Cavalry, and was commissioned as major commanding. This battalion was afterwards consolidated with the Nebraska First, which had returned from the South. The consolidated organization was known as the First Regiment of Nebraska Veteran Cavalry.
A battalion called Curtis' Horse, consisting of four companies, was also organized, being principally recruited in Omaha. This battalion was consolidated with the Fifth Iowa cavalry, the officers being: W. W. Lowe, Omaha, colonel; M. T. Patrick, Omaha, lieutenant-colonel; W. B. McGeorge, adjutant; Enos Lowe, Omaha, surgeon; B. T. Wise, assistant surgeon; Jerome Spellman, chaplain. Company A was commanded by Captain J. J. Lowe, Omaha; Company B by Captain John T. Croft, Omaha; Company C by Captain Morris Young; Company D by Captain Harlan Beard. All these companies were mustered in at Omaha by Lieutenant J. N. H. Patrick. Omaha has always been an important military point. Fort Omaha, where a large number of troops are stationed, was established in 1868 under the name of Sherman barracks. Omaha has for many years been the headquarters and supply depot of the Department of the Platte.

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OMAHA ILLUSTRATED.

It has already been stated, in this brief sketch of Omaha in the early days, that the first preacher was Rev. Peter Cooper, a Methodist clergyman, who came over from Council Bluffs to spread the Gospel among the pioneers. The next minister was Rev. Isaac F. Collins, also a Methodist. Next came Rev. William Leach, a Baptist. In September of the same year, 1855, Rev. Reuben Gaylord, a Congregationalist, visited Omaha, and in December he brought his family here and permanently located. The first Congregational church building

MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK.

erected in Omaha was a small brick structure. It is still standing, and forms a part of the large frame building now occupied as the city hall, at the northwest corner of Farnam and Sixteenth streets. The little church is attached to the rear of this building, at the northwest corner, and cannot be seen from the street. At the farewell services held in this church in 1867, preparatory to occupying other quarters, Rev. Mr. Gaylord delivered a sermon in which he gave his reminiscences covering the fourteen years he had been in Omaha. The published

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OMAHA ILLUSTRATED.

report of his sermon says: He commenced preaching in the council chamber, in the old State House, in December, 1855. There was no church organization except a Methodist class of not more than six members. On the 4th of May, 1856, he organized the first Congregational church in Nebraska with nine members, and steps were taken to build a church. The Methodists were then erecting a church on Thirteenth street. By the 26th of October

[Lyman Richardson during the trying days of Omaha's life was one of its sturdiest, strongest citizens. Not an aggressive man, nor one of those who keep themselves to the front, he was yet in line with all progressive movements, a clear-headed, broad-minded man. His career in Omaha dates from the days of manhood, and in the thirty years or more elapsing he has been one of the city's best men. Mr. Richardson was born in Michigan in 1834. After his course in the common, schools he entered the State University
at Ann Arbor, graduating therefrom with honors in 1854 while yet but twenty years of age. About this time Mr. Richardson's father came West to Omaha and hither he was followed by his family early in January, 1855, He entered the, law office of Judge Geo. B. Lake, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. The practice of his profession did not possess any allurements for him, and on the breaking out of the war Mr. Richardson was among the earliest to respond to President Lincoln's first call upon Nebraska for troops. He enlisted in the First Nebraska Infantry in July, 1862, and was chosen second lieutenant. Two months later he was promoted to a captaincy for his soldierly qualities, serving in that capacity with his regiment until the mustering out at the close of the war. For two or three years after the termination of the rebellion he lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, engaging in	LYMAN RICHARDSON.	general land speculation. In 1868 he returned to Omaha and with Dr. Geo. L. Miller purchased the Omaha Herald, the partnership in the publication of that paper continuing until its sale to John A. McShane in March, 1887. During his nearly twenty years connection with the Herald, Mr. Richardson was recognized as a strong factor in Omaha's growth and prosperity. Quiet and retiring by nature and of conservative character, his judgment was always sound and his voice always for the right. No citizen of Omaha enjoyed a greater share of the respect and confidence of his fellow men than did Mr. Richardson, and had he been of an ambitious turn of mind might have commanded the distinction of office at any time. But on the contrary, he loved best his private citizenship and the quiet enjoyment of his domestic happiness. He possesses studious mind,
enjoys the best literature, and is an authority upon matters of fact in history, literature and the current topics of the day. Since the sale of the Herald he has been enjoying life, being possessed of a competence and of almost every requirement to afford a man of his disposition content with the world.]

the Congregational church was far enough advanced for services to be held in the basement. On the 9th of August, the building having been completed, the dedication sermon was preached. The Episcopalian church was the next organized, in the old State House, in 1856. An Old School Presbyterian church was formed in June, 1857, with Rev. Mr. Bergen as minister; and a New School Presbyterian church was organized in 1860." Rev. Mr. Gaylord, who died a few years ago, continued as the pastor of the Congregational church until 1864. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Stowell, who was followed by Rev. W. W. Rose, and Rev. E. S. Palmer. Rev. Mr. Sherrill has been the pastor of the First Congregational church since 1870. The first church edifice that was completed in Omaha was built by the Roman Catholics. It was a brick structure, on Eighth street, between Harney and Howard, and was standing until a few years ago, when it was torn down to make room for the B. & M. freight depot. The Catholic Cathedral on Ninth street was built about the year 1866. The Methodists built the second church in Omaha, in 1856, on a lot

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© 1999, 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller