Bee
PART III,
SMsV ww94Rs9
THE OMAHA DEC
Bat & West
I!alf.to:;e sectio:i
PACKS 1 TO 10.
VOL. XXXVI-NO. 34.
OJIA1IA, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 10, 1907.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
SAMJEL EVANS ROGERS PIONEER BANKER AND BROKER
-Kentucky Youth of Push and Spirit Could Not Be Content Until He Had Reached New Country and Had Taken Up the Work of Its Development for Uses of Civilixed Man
The Omaha
Sunday
ErGHTT-nVB yean ago today, on February 19, 1822, Samuel
Evans Rogers was bora la aa humble bouse aear the tows
of Fleminssburg, Heminc county, Kentucky, His father,
William R. Rogers, was a potter. Bat la the son waa bora
that spirit which la the spirit of the great men of all ages
who rlss from humble beginnings, the iptrit that overcomes all ob
stacles sad srrlTes at the desired end. the spirit that animated Lin
coln. Gsrflsld. Grant sad s host of ethers who have "made them-
Today oa sis wlghty-flfth birthday Samuel E. Rogers can look
with satisfaction at the life he has Jived and feel thai hs has ac
complished that tor which his heart longed whea he was s boy.
For ha contributed much to the development of Omaha sad es
pecially la real estate and banking, two lines which make particu
larly far the permanence of a city, hs took a pioneer and always a
leading part.
Bs early showed a thirst for learning. Many a night th his
boyhood sat studying long after the rest of the family were
ssleent Many a hickory tree contributed its bark to make torches
for the young searcher after wisdom. From auch books as the "Life
of Washington." the "UXe of Marlon" and "The Deyelopment of
Western Civilization" hs drew his Inspiration to be and do some
thing la the great empire that was then opening
As the studious lad grew np It became apparent that he was not
going to follow In his father's footsteps. He was Impatient to get to
the frontier, of which hs had read and heard so much. While still
little mors than a boy he went to clerk In his brother's store la
Michigan town, Ind. There hs met and married the wife with whom
he 11 Ted aa uninterrupted and Ideal Ufa of sixty-six years. She
Was Miss Martha Brown, and they wers married la 1141 when hs
was 19 and his bride scarcely 18 years of sgs. Mrs. Rogers died
January la of this year.
Wife Seconds Husband's Ambition
His wife proved a womsa of remarkable parts. She Immedi
ately accorded with her husband's desire to go to the west. But
first hs set about securing a higher education, entering Wabash
college In Crawfordsvllle. Ind, from which hs was graduated with
the degrewof master of arts la 1S4S. He read law for a Urns la
the?, offlc of Joseph A. Wright, who afterward became governor of
Indiana. Later hs moved to Pekin, 111. It was st a time whea that
stats was prolific la great m'en and Its greatest man was In Ptkln
at that time.- It was Abraham Lincoln, a straggling young lawyer. .
"I lived close to th. court house, says Mr. Rogers, "and I often
went over to listen to the arguments. : Among others I had an op
portunity of listening to Lincoln. Hs was' a tall, awkward fellow,
and his clothes didn't seem to fit him. It" struck ms that hs mads
a very odd fia-ure but he was not a bit self-conscious. He went Oa -with
his arttnnt. Interspersing It now and .then with a story. Th
lawyers used to make sport of. him. but he took it all good-naturedly
and whea hs began talking to a Jury 'ha made them take notice.'
I remember hs had a little peculiarity In his pronunciation, some
thing hs had brought with him from, his backwoods hone, and th -opposing
lawyers: used"; this -si capltaT to try to' make fctm appear
ridiculous." Bit he always came out ahead because hs was perfectly
sel?:pcE8CBS(I and could turn the Joke on to the, other fellow every
time. tOn of these words I remember was 'alternate,, which he pro
nounced with the accent on the second syllable.' His opponents 2slt--that
It should bs placed on the first syllable. They tried to lmltata
him in th pronunciation sad thus render him ridiculous. But his
odd- pronunciation seemed to only renderjilta the mors conspicuous
In thetrlal because his logic was so strong and hlNtemper so good
and hs was so likable that hs seemed to corns off always with, first
boners. ; i...
8nca was America's greatest man In the making. ' Tea year
later this awkward young lawyer was to be thrown into the vortex
of the greatest crisis la the history of the greatest nation in th
world.
Postoffice Couldnt Hold Him
It wss while ha was postmaster in Harass, I1L, that the call of
the west cams to Mr. Rogers most Irresistibly. Ha wss a true Ken
tucklan and pre-eminently a pioneer. He was of that race of sturdy
giant men whoss delight It Is to penetrate the wilderness, to hew
down the trees, bridge the rivers, build railroads, lay out towns,
cities snd farms In short, to maks nature yield up her best. There
Is a certain Joy In ths heart of this type of man la overcoming ob
stacles snd hs sees his reward la results. Aad when ths call of the
wilderness came to him hs decided to go. Accompanied by his
father he set out la a wagoa la ths lata summer of 1834 snd came
to Council Bluffs. The country across the river to ths west was
Just to ths liking of ths frontiersman. It was a wilderness slmost
anmsrrsd by ths step of any but ths moccaalned Indian foot. "Uncle
Billy Snowden'a tog house hsd been built less than two months and
"Uncle Billy" says hs wss ths first settler In Omaha.
The morning after their arrival In Council Bluffs ths two men,
father and son. crossed the river and looked over the townsite,
which was Just being roughly laid out. Ths father took up a claim
sf 320 acres to ths south of the city, while ths son decided to erect
a house la ths towa or rather oa ths townsit. Hs chose ths
southeast corner of Eleventh and Dodge streets, where the police
station now stands, and there hs built the first house in Omaha.
"Uncle Billy" Snowden's residence was a log cabin, but Mr. Rogers
built a real house. He cut and hewed ths walnut logs for ths frame.
Hs bought ths boarding for ths sides ta Council Bluffs. He hauled
the shingles, from a place more than fifty miles south of Council
Bluffs. Altogether It was a comfortable house and It was certainly
the "finest la Omaha. Ths horns was ready by October snd then
Mr. Rogers brought his wife to ths west and bscams a permanent
Omaha settler.
There was practically nothing for a man to do, especially la
ths winter. With only one other family In ths "city business snd
Social tifs did not consume much of ths young man's time. Hs Im
mediately began to do service for his adopted state, being elected
to ths upper house of ths territorial legislature at the election of
ths November after hs arrived. Ths othar members of ths council
from Douglas county wers O. D. Richardson. A. D. Jones aad T. Q.
GoodwlU. Dr. Miller was clerk.
Voters in the Early Day
"There wers Just 202 votes cast in Douglas county at that first
election," hs says. "Ths majority of ths voters cams across from
lows. No. I wouldn't say there wers any election frauds. Ia that
day voters wers scarce, and It was an indication' of growth if ws
could show a big election list. Those who came across to vols In
tended to make Nebraska their horns eventually and wers only wait
ing ta Iowa until homes should be built.'
During four sessions of ths legislature be served In the upper
house. There hs did good work for ths city of lmaha, always oa ths
alert to defend its Interests. Us held ths deciding vote la ths first
Wgtslaturs spoa ths question of location of ths capKoL Ths vote
stood sevea for Omaha and sis against . Hs was ths mover of ths
second question submitted to ths first territorial council of Ne
braska. In the fourth legislature, that of 1858, he waa again in
strumental la heading oft a "stampede" of ths lsw-makera from
Omaha. A bill was sp at that time for the relocation of the eapltol
and a majority of ths members left ths eapltol building and mads
that famous march of January 7 to Florence, alleging that they were
unsafe ia Omaha. Mr. Rogers waa appointed a member of ths la
ve tig ting committee which condemn! this removal to Florence,
aad held those who hsd gone responsible for the trouble. The re
sult was ths reconvening of ths legislature la Omaha. He was one
f sevea mea admitted to ths bar by ths first suprems court of Ne
braska ta J use, 1855.
Air. Rogers entered ths niurcaatila business la Omaha lr ths
.'J 1
r - v ' y
"" . . 1
BAMUELr EVANS ROGERS
firm of H oilman. Blair ft Co. la 1858, their store being located at
Thirteenth and Farnam streets. Hs continued there until 1862, in
which year he took a load of goods overland to Salt Laks City.
During this trip hs had ths novel experience of being shot at by sa
Indian. Ths arrow just graced the flank of the horse on which he
was riding. Hs served for a time as county commissioner In 1868 to
fill a vacancy caused by ths death of James G. Megeath.
The most aotabls activities of Mr. Rogers, however, wers la
banking and real estate. Hs began In these lines soon after his
arrival. A small frame building on ths corner of Eleventh and
Douglas streets bore the proud legend. "S. Rogers, Bank." as early
as 1857. The offics even boasted a safe, which was ths admiration
of ths whits settlers snd a marvel to the Indians who viewed It.
The panic and money famine of 1857 swept over the country Just
after hs had established his Infant institution and for a long tims
Its fate hung In the balance. Eventually It waa closed at ths time
when there was no money with which to run a bank, asids from ths
almost worthless city scrip. Later hs helped organize ths Stats
Weidensall in Vienna and Prague
MX TRIP to Austria included two
- cities only, Pragus and Vienna.
Prague, ths capital of Bohemia,
Is aa unusually interesting city. It
Is situated oa the River Moldan and has a
population 'of 216.000 inhabitants In ths
city proper; with its suburbs. It has about
400,000 inhabitants. It has a most beauti
ful sltuatioa naturally, which, together with
Its many excellencies ss a city, makes it
one of the most attractive places in Europe.
The old castle snd ths cathedral are on the
top of a high hill, oa the opposite side of
the river from ths city proper, snd ac
cordingly appear to very great advantage.
Ths -castle, located where it is. wss cer
tainly a place that would afford strong rs
slstancs and furnish safety to all that en
tered It. Ths cathedral was doss to' the
castle, and is remarkable as ths place where
the Bohemias kings were crowned. It con
tains many interesting things, particularly
ths inside walls of ths room In which ths
kings are crowned wers adorned with
precious stones. Inlaid. One of these In-
laid stones had ths exact appearance of a
beautiful large butterfly.
There are other very fins churches ta
ths city proper. Ths great bridges across
ths wide river are of stone, well built and
maks a fins appearance. One of them has.
high towers at both snds of It. unlike any
other bridges I hsvs see a. Possibly they
may havs been for the protection of the
bridge at oae time.
Ths river view, with its great bridges.
Its sttractivs shores and swarming boats,'
wss simply magnificent. There are many
'large and handsome public and privats
buildings, broad and beautiful streets, boule
vards, splendid parks, snd a popular Island
resort. Ths last of thoss Is on ths main
city side cf ths river, where there are provi
sions for all manner of enjoyment In the
warmer season of ths yesr.
Vienna, ths capital of the Austrian em
pire, the seat of government, aad the resi
dence of the royal family, is situate oa ths
Danube canal and has s population of
1,700,000 Inhabitants, about 150,000 Jews.
According to its slse. Vienna is second to
but few cities. If sny, in its beautiful sppear
ancs and its special attractions of a superior
kind. Its maxnl&ceat theater building com-
at-
ths
a
aad
and
pares very favorably with ths Grand Opera
House In Paris. Ths majestic museum
aad picture gallery, as they face each, other
In one of the largest and most beautiful
squares of ths city, are simply grand. Ths
Great Charles church, ths largest la ths
city, now undergoing repairs, and the St.
Stephen's church, with a tower 138 meters
nign, are historical. Imposing and
tractive, both In themselves and In
places where they are located. From
chancel In ths rear of St. Stenhen's church.
in St. Stephen's Plats, Speratus preached
the evangelical doctrines for ths first tims
they were preached in ths city and for which
ha was banished. The boulevards, public
squares and parks ars in ths front rank.
Ons of ths boulevards is claimed to bs ths
most beautiful In the world. The Alberts
picture gallery is famous for its rare col
lection of pictures, ia miniature
sketches.
Ths St. Augustine church, sn old
historic ons, has la It. amona other aotabls
things, a very unique monument of the finest,
marble, fashioned in the form of a tent with
the door curtains drawn asids. Among other
noted monuments In ths city sre: Mosart's,
who was a native of Vienna; Joseph Res
sel's, inventor of the screw propeller, and
Emperor Joseph II. who gave tolerance for
Protestant churches In 1782. An Inscrip
tion on the monument says of him:
lived tor the good of his people.
long, but wholly ftotusl." it ta
freshing to took upon such a monument with
such sn inscription in these intolerant coun
tries. Ths very old part of the city, Hof
burg and Hofplatx. ths former a gsrrisoa
and ths Utter a marker, ars Intensely In
teresting places to visit snd note how well
preserved they ars. Vienna must b sma
to be fully appreciated I had Utile time
to And out much about Austria, except
is generally known. The country looks
snd is doubtless productive. The climate Is
fine snd enjoyable. Why AnsirU does not
stand higher in the grade of nations is
doubtless very largely due to the intolerance
of ths Catholic church and the race divisions
of .Its people. No country can be strong
whers any institation la permitted to corns
between it aad Its people, or where ths
great body of ths people, including ths most
Bsnk of Nebraska, snd wss ons of the chief stockholders. This la-"
stitution prospered with ths growing city, and was finally merged
Into the present Merchants National bank, of which great institu
tion Mr. Rogers was vice president from 1875 to 1898.
Activity la real estats began la ths early 60s. st which tims
Mr, Rogers was the owner of a number of acres of ths soil oa which
ths city was to be built. Hs always had ths optimistic faith of the
successful pioneer snd looked for great developmsnt la ths towa,
but hs never Imagined It would attain its present proportions.
"I put it down In the early days as a 10.000 city, hs says.
"And It took a pretty optimistic maa to expect that much la thoss
days."
With ths advent of the real estate boom his business assumed
vast proportions. Hs proved sn indefatigable worker, frequently
being busy all day, out through ths city and then working half tBa
night at his office. He took a leading part In the development of ths
south part of ths city, snd laid out aad named Vinton. Castsllar,
Dorcas, Martha and other streets. Hs wss Identified with the Credit
Fonder scheme of George Francis Train. Nebraska's eccentric grains.
Train walked into the offics one day and announced his great
scheme. He immediately negotiated the purchase of 600 acres, most
of it from Mr. Rogers, though he also purchased a part from ths
Kountxs brothers. This tract extended from the present Pierce
street south to Deer park and from ths present Second street to
Twentieth street. Train bought ths land for f 100 to $200 an acre,
though Mr. Rosters received only $1,000 of this In cash. Ths re
mainder wss secured by mortgages. Train laid out ths northeast
eighty acres in lots and erected ten frame cottages sent out from
Chicsgo all ready to bs put together. These houses cost $1,200 each
and wers rented to some of ths leading families of Omaha at $60 a
month. Train then sold ths entire tract to ths Credit Foncier of
America, of which hs was president. Hs filled ths eastern papers
with great advertisements of these lota and with glowing predic
tions of the future of Omaha, but his scheme proved a failure. Mr.
Rogers brought suit with Kountxe brothers for ths foreclosure of ths
mortgages. This suit wss fought by Train, though at a disadvantage,
hs being confined In the Tombs prison In New York at that tims.
After ths matter had been la ths courts sixteen years Mr. Rogers
again gained a clear title to the tract la 188$.
Builder of Omaha Homes
His work ta Omaha real estate extended over many years. Hs
built hundreds of houses and has probably sold more lots la Omaha
than any other one man, Even these great Interests were not suffi
cient to occupy his attention, and hs bought lands outside of ths
city and even la the far west. Hs was a member of ths company
which exploited the South Omaha real estate In connection with ths
establishment of ths stock yards there. Hs was at ons tims owner
of one-third of ths townsite of Brownvills. Ia 1879. with Frank
Murphy, General W. W. Lows and James L. Lovett. hs bought mors
than 8,000 acres of oil lands la Wyoming on which they sunk threw
oil wells which proved of great value. Ths wells still exist, though
they sre plugged up the Standard Oil wouldn't tolerate competition.
He became Interested ia Florida lands la 1882, at which tims hs
mads his first trip south. His mala purpose was to spend ths winter
months In the mild southern climate and at first hs aad his wlfs
went to a hotel. '
"But that was too easy a life to suit me," hs says. "There waa ,
nothing to do all day, aad so I Just bought a few acres of land and
went out and planted soma orange trees." -
This manifestation of ths old pioneer instinct that has always
been strong In him led to another profitable venture. He combined
business and pleasurs there oa his own horns la ths midst of ths
lands hs had bought for a song in 18S2. At ths snd of twelve years
be had aa orange plantation which, yielded him aa annual profit of
from $10,000 to $12,000.
Mr. Rogers was ons of ths Incorporators of the company which
built ths Coliseum In 1888. This building, though not a financial
success to those who erected it, did much to forward ths interests
of Omaha In advertising ths city and bringing national svsnts and
attractions here. The national convention of ths people's party
which nominated General Weaver of Iowa for the presidency waa
held in this building In 1892. Patti, the -great singer, appeared
there before an audisncs of 8,500 In 1890. When ths Omaha Real
Estate Owners' association was organised la 1891 Mr. Rogers was
elected a msmber of ths board of advisers of that body. Hs has
been a member of ths Masons lodge sver since be became old enough
to join that organization. When the first lodgo la Omaha waa or
ganized, January 9, 1857, hs wss among ths charter members. Hs
has always remained a member of ths Blus lodge. Hs has been
many years a msmber and trusts of ths First Unitarian church of
Omaha.
"Who
rhile aot
most re-
rhat
well
humble, are aot In sympathetic love with it.
because its chief aim is to be v -fit the people
la every way. It certainly should exist for
ths people and their greatest welfare.
The old Emperor Francis Joseph Is ons
of ths last of ths splendid old rulers In
Europe, viz.. Queen Victoria, Emperor Wil
liam I. King Christian. King Oscar, etc Hs
is a good maa and merits ths heart-sympathy
of his people, which hs doubtless has.
I am sure that Austria will aot know what
a treasure it has had la the old emperor
until he will have passed away.
I reached Prague, capital of Bohemia,
yet la Austria. October 20. 1906. at 11
o'clock a. m. As there wss no Toung Men's
Christian association work that I knew of, I
put In ths whols tims sightseeing. My time
wss abort, but I compassed ths city fairly
welL I crossed ths wide river and went up
on ths top of ths high hill, from which I
had a good view of ths city and ths sur
rounding country. I passed through the old
csstle, now a military post, and visited ths
old cathedral, which Is near to ths caatls
and very closely connected with Bohemian
history. Is It ths Bohemian kings havs
been crowned. The church is quits dark
within and Its exterior unattractive. Its
elevated position makes It plainly vial bis
from all parts of ths city and country. I
crossed several of ths great bridges and
walked sp and dowa ths fins river streets.
I went through a largs number of very small
unclean streets snd squares snd was loaf sev
eral times In ths mazes of small streets,
alleys, etc I was very tired. At ths closs
of my wandering through ths city I went to
the depots whers I had ths most sudden and
worst stuck of vertigo I ever experienced.
I could scarcely stand or walk. I was fesr
ful that my world trip had corns to a sudden
stop la a strange ctty. whers I kasw nobody
and the English was practically unknown.
I presume I hsd overtaxed my strength. I
staggered Into a restaurant to take some ap-r-.
hoping that that would restore me to
my normal condition. I had to sit down and
hold on to ths chair to give my order; I feel
surs that I was considered drunken. The
meal, enly part of which I ate. strengthened
me very much. It then became a grave
a Continued oa Pag Two.).
Home Life is Peaceful
Mr. Rogers' only son. G. Samuel Rogers, Is vies president aad
treasurer of ths Rogers Real Estate compaay of which Mr. Rogers
is president. Ths Rogers family home is located at Twenty-second
and Chicago streets. It Is Urge, well located and comfortable. Ia
It Mr. Rogers has lived for eighteen years. And there, surrounded
by his son and his son's family, h lives today, the svening of an
sventf ul, useful and busy life. Ths boy who studied by ths light of
a hickory bark torch la ths Kentucky woods mors than seventy
years ago has mads good use of his education and filled aa Important
place In ths development of ths city which hs adopted as his home.
Ths weight of eighty-five years has by no means broken dowa
that sturdy pioneer body. Inured to hardship and born to ths endur
ance of many of nature's health-giving vicissitudes. Mr. Rogers
stands mors than six feet tall and is But little stooped with ags. Hs
U cheerful, kindly and likeable. Courteous and hospitable, hs U the
Ideal type of ths Kentucky gentleman, a type whoss renown ia
world-wide. He U In excellent health, eats heartily and slssps
soundly. Hs still, makes a practice of taking a long walk daily
whenever the weather permits. Hs has mads It a Ufa-long rule ta
be In the open air as much ss possible, sad to Uus h attributes la
largs degree bis unfailing health. Hs possessed all through his
busy life that remarkable and valuable faculty of not worrying.
Even la hU most strenuous days bs could go boms from his offics
and In ths bosom of his family forget all abodt business until ths
next day. And this has brought him to bU Utter days ths most pa
tient and kindly of men. Though hs was an indefatigable worker
and capable of accomplishing a great deal la a given tims. hs was
not a hard taskmaster with ths many men hs employed. Hs always
had ' quit ths opposits reputation. Men said he "spoiled" the
workmen by Using too Indulgent with them.
Loss of Wife Heavy Blow
Th death of his wife, which occurred January 13, 1907, was
the greatest bereavement which sver visited him. They had lived
In ths most Intimat companionship for mors than sixty-six years.
Ia his contempt for such modern "conveniences' as false teeth
and syegUsses Mr. Rogers showed th spirit of th self-rsllant pio
neer. He never used either of these. His family prevailed upon
him to have a set of false teeth fitted at ons tims. Tha molars hav
remained in a drawer uaused, the pioneer declining to "fill his
mouth with crockery." He never qaed eyeglssses and today pos
aesses as keen eyesight ss ths keenest. Hs has always been and
still la sn omnivorous reader snd a deep thinker. Hs has beea called
by soma of his friends a "book worm" from hU lovs of delving dsep
Into llteraturs and history. Hs is a' thorough reader of ths daily
press and better posted on current events than most cltisena, He
takes a number of magazines snd reads them. Samuel B. Rogers,
sturdy backwoodsman, lawyer, pioneer, banker, caa well rest upoa
' ths honors hs has gained during his lifs snd caa look proudly upoa
ths accomplishments of his tour score and flva well spent yesxa,