The'
un day Bee
PART IIL
HALF'TOIIE SECTION
PACES 1 TO 10.
VOL. XXXVI XQ. za
OMAHA, SUNDAY MOKNTXG, FEBKUAEY 24, 1907.
SINGLE COVY FIVE CENTS,
HARRY PORTER DEUEL THE PIONEER PASSENGER AGENT
Story of the Man Who Sold the First Railroad Ticket Out of Omaha tcd Who Has Since Set Myriads of Men aad Women Happily Along the Road Properly Equipped With Transportation
Omaha
THE OMAHA DEE
Best West
ALMOST ti.lt a cratirr of fighting the battles of Orotti a
on of Ita leading busine men it tb record of Harry
Porter DeueL Thirty-tire of thee years were r;ent as
passenger ana ticket agent for railroads running into
Omaha. He 1 the dean cf On aha ticket amenta, and
to tie tfm of bis retirement from art! re railroad affairs be held tb
record la Nebraska for continuous ervice.
A nu with a "bead for figure" baa calculated the amount
of tramline that could be done If one mas bad purchased and used
all the tickets sold br Harry Porter Deuel out of Omaha la bla
tfclrtT-flr years' aerrir-a. Such a maa would need be, not only a
rlbe trotter, but a aolar system trotter. To ue ap tb lmmens
nnount et. transportation sold him be would bare to make twa
r!;s to the sua annually, the round trip being lfcO.OOO.tiOO mile.
V;" zi Lit return earb year be would have to take a few runs around
tie globe to use up the odd end of bis transportation, with, per
Uap. an occasional trip to the moon, only 24, 000 miles distant.
't the a. ere matter of mileage la not an important one In estimating
br rood work Harry Deuel baa done for Omaha and for Its up
1' iiUltr. He has t-en always an aggressive factor In the growth
tT ti- !:;. He ws here to lay the foundation and be was on th
K'i vbfD m. rh of the superstructure of the city was erected. Ha
f Ftill . s;x feet of genial manhood upon whom more tha
(Motility winter ul Lime bare left a gentle trace.
Started from New York
HI fathe- was an old-fashioned New Tork eooj-er. tbe back
o - C bird tint tcu read about, aad Hiirry was born In Clarksoa,
Virn count. New TorV. December 11. 1SC6. When be was littla
!co,-e than a jtir c'.u his father abandoned his trade of cooper and.
moving to whit ts then the far west. Farmington, Fulton county,
ll'.'tois. be engased In farming. Harry, growing up, was sent to
tie .ittle log school hour, where be learned rapidly and soon ex
' :. ::ed capabilities and ambitions beyond tbose of most ot bis eom
;iiirions. At tbe age of 17 be entered Lombard university at Gales
burg, where be pursued bis studies until tbe death of bis mother,
lie vas then about to graduate, but left tbe university and went
b ck to be with bis father on Lb farm. He remained there until
Ncrmber. 1SS9, when the "call of the west" came to him and bo
decided to respond. Packing bis few belongings, be took a river
'out at Pooria for Omaha. Ho went by way of St, Louis and St.
Joseph, arriving at tbe latter point when tbe river to the north
vas frozen and closed to navigation. But this was no obstacle to
stop a pioneer with health and two good legs and be walked a
hundred miles over tbe uninhabited, dreary prairies to tbe home of
an undo In tbe vicinity of what Is now Fall City. After a short
visit there be left and w alked to Omaha.
Tbe great empire of tbe west was opening up rapidly. an
ands of emigrants bad passed through Omaha In tbe ten yei . . re
ceding. Thee pioneers needed many supplies and provisions iron
tbe east. Omaha was tbe funnel through which these supplies wer
poured from the east Into tbe west- Mr. Deuel at once "went into
business with bis uncle. John K Porter, in conducting a steamboat
agency. They were agents for the Hannibal A St, Joseph packet line,
which operated a line of boats with Omaha as northern terminal.
Among these were the "West Wind," "Colorado." "Spread.. Ealex"
"Denver" and "Hesperian." The round trip from St. Joeej'h to
Omaha on these bata took five dajaand- it . wa4h aiisiisgaE
company to mak m -dally stervioa.
convinced the miner that be could book hitn direct to all the prin
cipal cities of the world and that the tickets vkich be bandied were
Lot excelled anywhere on earth. The miner was convinced and
then and there the first railroad ticket vu sold. It was to New
Tork by way of steamer to St- Joseph and thence east ty the Hanni
bal & St- Joseph, Chicago. Burlington 4 Quincy and Pennsylvania
lines. The two men who had gained distinction, the one by baying
and the other by selling the first railroad ticket out of Omaha, went
out and celebrated the event, tradition aaitb. In a glass of lemonade.
Agent for the Railroad
Business Wa General
, Th first tilac at loftiness of Porter A Depel was established
sear the Isujobs ""Lou Tre" -xteaort. which was then a boat landing
and general remlesvoua for traveler. - Lcvter a large warekouse was
built at tb foot of Faro am street. Through that warehouse went
thousand of ton of the figurative "brick and mortar" tor the
bclldlag of the great empire structure In the western bait of this
continent. Immense rolls of wirw, great casks of Insulators and big
boxes ot oilier auppllea ware uslo&ded from tbe steamers daily and
reloaded upon ox teams tor the west., Tbeae vera for the building ot
tbe Western Caloa telecrasb Una which James Crelghton was then
pasbrag at tb rata of vewal mile a day toward ta Pacific coast.
Building material, wagons, bamesa, farming implement, groceries,
dry goods,' to tact everything needed by the pioneers passed In a
streaa throvgb tha wart-house to be distributed all over tbe gret
western country.- At time there was a' pile of com a mile long
oa the river bank, waiting to b traneported by ox train to the
western army posts, "Hauling coals to Newcastle" would seem to
ba Just as sensible as Importing corn Into Nebraska, and one can
almost fancy the fertHa acre laughing at tbe folly of bringing
corn from a great distance to the country particularly adapted to
growing that cereal. But ta the early days thera were many vicissi
tudes to be conaiderad between tba plaatttig and the barTesUng of a
crop In tbe new country.
Tba first locomotive to act a vasal la Nebraska was brought
from St. Joseph oa this packet 11a consigned through Mr. Deuel's
bousa. It was the "General Sherman" of tha Union Pacific For a
time Mr. Deuel preserved tba bill ot lading of tbe epoch-making
engine, but It was coBftuxaed la a Era several years ago. Freight
rate la taoes days war high. Between St. Joseph and Omaha tbe
rata waa from S cent to f 1 a hundred In time ot high water. When
tb water was low and snags and sandbars consoqsentiy plentiful,
ta rata ran aa bigb as a hundred pound. On the twenty loco
motive tba packet line bro&ght roa St- JoseLb ta Omaha tba
freight vas a round 11.000 earb. -
Adrrdration for Steamboats Strong
Mr. Deuel spent one ot bis first aummers a clerk on on ot
tbeas boats, tba "Denver." General Sherman and bis staff re
turning from a trip to a wescera tort took pasaag on the veasel
on trtn going ta ST. Joseph. For the old pioneer vessels of tba
Missouri Mr. Deuel still has a strong admiration.
Tba Denver was really a ta boat." be aaya "la some things
w vera compelled to get along with makeshift In those daya. but
tb boat were all right- The Denver was a pretty veasel of SOB
tons burden and having accommodations tor ISO trst cabin passen
gers. The fare between St, Joe and Omaha was 111. Tbe trip on
way took something more than two daya. In times ot low water
tbe time of passage was very anoertain oa aooount ot the ssags and
sand bars la the 01d Muddy. Aa a rule tbe trip was very pleasant.
On moonlight night we kept right oa going. When It was unpleasant
w tied ap at alght. la either event there waa plenty ot amuse
ment on board and generally a dance. 1 used to play tbe guitar
myself wbea I was needed. On night wbea we were oa a sand
bar just below Nebraska City aad tba river full ot ice, fire brok out
forward. Only twe or three ot as knew It and by Quick work put
it oat befor the passengers bad tlma to tall Into a panic Had
they don so they would ha been lost, tor we bad only one small
boat aad tbe toe ta tbe river would have mad It Impossible for
anyone ta swlia ashore."
Mr. Deuel bad beea tnarried January C, 1151. to Mis Freelov
Jan Miller ef Tlskilwa, HI. After be bad determined to remaia
la Omaha be reteraed east and brought ber ant their baby girl to
bis new borne. He part-based the west sixty-six feet of tbe prop
erty oa which tb Bee building now stands aad apoa It was bailt
the rudest kind of a atra crura. It waa snad of cottoawood boards
set upright and rourb citllrg nailed across tbee. Factory canvas
waa tacked oa tb trails to keep ost the eeld. In this bouse tbe
Uttl family tired for several years. It waa a favorite camping
ground tor tb Indiana. Many a night a growling and noise ot
tumbling about could be beard under tbe floor and tb pioneers
knew that tbe brave were Inviting themselves to tbe shelter afforded
by tbe bouse. Later Mr. Deuel sold tbe sixty-six-foot lot for 11.4 60.
Tba first railroad ticktt sold out ot Omaha was sold by Mr.
s '
HARRT PORTER DKUKU
Deuel la ItCO. Peter Groat, then general passenger agent of the
Hannibal A St, Joseph railroad, bad, at young Deuel's request, sent
him a s ember of sample tickets to tbe leading cities of tbe country.
Prior to that time travelers tor the east simply bought a steamboat
ticket to St. Joseph In Omaha and, upon arriving in St, Joseph, pur
chased their railroad ticket to tbe east- A few days after young
Deuel bad received the sample tickets a miner returning from the
west entered the office end asked for a ticket to St. Joseph- Right
there young Deuel exhibited the enterprise which made him suc
cessful in later years. Pulling out bis bunch of sample tickets, be
Having demonstrated hi ability to get business. Mr. Deuel
selected as agent for the Kansas City. St. Joseph A Council BluCs
railway when that road was built through a few years later. Wbea
the B.-A M. was built to Omaha be took the responsible position
of agent for that road and held It until lbS. when be resigned to
become city passenger agent for the Union Pacific He resigned
this position in lbl6 to become superintendent of tbe Burlington
fiaseenger station. And be resigned this position and completed
bis railroad career in lfc.?J. in which year he was elected auditor
of Douglas county. In lfr01 be vas elected register of deeds, a
position which be held until January, 1 fc 06.
Masonry has been a life-long study of Mr. Deuel. He baa oc
cupied many high positions In the order. He was the first grand
bigh priest and the first graDd commander of the Nebraska lodge.
He has attained to the highest degree cf Masonry, the thirty -third
degree, Scottish rite, the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystie
Shrine. He is also a member of the Elks lodge. As a business
man, Mr. Deuel has always occupied a high place. He baa held tba
strenuous pot!tion of passenger agent during tbe many years of
fierce competition between the many railroads in Omaha. He baa
advanced with the times and has always been in the front rank cf
tbe progressives. Many men trained In tbe art ot getting business
came out from tbe east, but none were able to get ahead ot tha
pioneer.
Personality is Attractive
His success was due largely to a naturally attractive person
ality and a penchant for making friends. He is today tbe aams
genial man be has always been. Time has set a gentle band upon
him and be bears his seventy years with grace. One would not be
lieve that the tall, erect man with the grey moustache and clear
complexion has reached three score and ten. It has been a cheerful
optimistic seventy years and that is tbe reason they have not worn
tbe man. He baa been in demand at meetings of pioneers and al
ways an honored guest as "dean ot tbe ticket agents" at meetings
ot men of bis own profession. His mind runs along tbe line of tb
passenger agent naturally, even to tbe final step, a Is shown by aa
address be made at a meeting some time ago. in which be said: "I
trust when tbe time comes for yon to take tbe journey we all must
take, when Charon has transferred you over the dark river and yoa
bare presented yourselves to Saint Peter and banded bia your
tickets for admission within the gates, be will glance yoa over, take
your ticket and, after a careful examination, will remark. "This is
all right, straight ticket, properly signed, witnessed, limited and
stamped. No scalping work here. Pass right In, Usher, show
there gentlemen to front peats." "
Mr. Deuel and Mrs. Deuel occupy tbe bom where they hav
lived for more than twenty years at Nineteenth and Dodge streets.
Only one of their two children is living. This is Charles L. Deuel,
who married Miss Mary Lake, daughter of George B. Lake. He la
cashier of the McCord, Brady company. Miss Blanche L. DeueL tb
baby girl the pioneer brought with them to Omaha, died at tbe aga
of 1 . Ebe was a member of tbe first class graduated from tb
Omaha High school In lfc76. She was a musician of extraordinary
talent and a great favorite with all who knew her.
Mr. Deuel Is stm as a?t!ve a xnary men bait bis age and pre
dicts the brightest things for Omaha In the futute. He believe
history ought to be made .to repeat Itself in tbe rehabilitation of tba
Missouri river witi the stt amboats which so befittlngly rode np and
down that stream In tbe early daya
Weidensall Tells of His Trip Through Belgium
IN MX trip to Belginm I visited two cities only.
Braasels and Antwerp. Brussels, tbe capi
tal of Belgium, situated about the center of
tb kingdom, is tbe seat of government and
the residence of tbe royal family. It has a popu
lation of more than COtf.bVV inhabitants, Quite a
number ot whom ar English, French, German
and Dutch. Brussels i a manufacturing center,
cbiefiy noted for the insnnfaclur ot very fine and
beautUal lac which bears it name. Its many
celebrated boulevard and squares, iu many large
and spkndid buildings and its many excellent
public institutions make Brussels one of tb most
noted cfties of tbe world. It is often very de
servedly called "Little Paria." A mere mention
ot omot the things must suffice; tb great
Boulevard Waterloo and Avenue Louisa, tb great
park fronting tb king palace, tbe Grand Place
or Central Square cf the city, remarkable because
ot Ita historical s iationa. "Tb history ot
this square Is ooincictut with tb history of Brus
aeifc. There was not a marked Incident ot tb
city, not a revolt, not an execution, no festival, no
public rejoicing, of which ate Grand Place was
not tbe scene." Tbe buge cathedral, with two
great twin towers. "Tbe pulpit of this cathedral
is on ot tbe most beautiful known specimens of
wood earring, tbe monopoly of which Belgium bas
retained to this day." Tb Hotel de Till, or
city ball, one of tbe finest la Europe, and tbe
Palace of Justlpe. one of tbe really wonderful
structures of tbe world. "Tb new Palais de
Justice of Brussels Is certainly ot all edifice la
tbe world tb most gigantic in bulk and tb moat
daring ia conception." Then the museum aad
picture galleries arc .of tb finest order. Tbe
battlefield of Waterloo Is tn tbe environs of tbt
city and can be seen oa a clear day from tbe tep
of tbe Palace of Justice and from tb tower ot
tbe Hotel de Tllle.
Antwerp, though smaller than Brussels and
not so noted la many things, is a good second to '
Bruseela It baa many fine public and private
buHdtnga. Its chief cathedral is noted tor Its
anssrpasaed paintings of Rubens, tbe "Taking
Christ Down from tb Cross" and tbe "Putting
Him on tb Cross," as well as tbe great altar pic
ture. Tb Tnktag Christ Down from tb Crow"
is tb chief masterpiece. No picture of this event
la tbe world is ao real as Rabens'. This cathe
dral bas a very handsome woed carved pulpit
lik tb en la Brnaaela.-Tb "magnificent "Mn
aeum building contains tb Rubens' picture gaK
lery and a gallery ef Vaa Dyrk'a paintinga. These
galleries contain many original paintings of these
vaster xa!ntfcra. Tb Museum alao contains a
barge space devoted to sculpture, with many re
markable spedmena.
Antwerp is also a great center of trade. It
Is said that more than three times as many ships
enter and clear tbe harbor of. Antwerp than of
Amsterdam. Holland- This of Itself shows the
magnitude of ita trade and commerce.
Belgium Is a small country, but rich in Its
soil. It is cbiefiy made up of lowlands; farming
and pasturing are doubtless Its chief employ
ments; however, much manufacturing is tione.
It is said that 120,000 persona are employed in
tbe manufacturing of fine lace. Tbe value of the
yearly production is about f0,0tf0.0t0 franca.
Belgium is certainly well situated for business
and tret el. so near tb great bualneaa centers ot
the world. Everybody seems busy. While there
must be much wealth in the bands ct some, there
Is much poverty. Tb country Is almost exclu
sively Catholic
I reached Brussels Saturday. November S.
lt0, and was driven at once to the hotel, where
I was to lodge while ia tbe city. I met there tb
United State consul ot Ghent. Belgium, Major
W. P. AtwelX, and hi wife, who wer spending
some deys In Brussels. After supper I was called
npon by Mr. V. Baity, acting secretary of tbe Bel
gian national committee of tb Young .Men'
Christian association. L went with him to the
rooms of tbe association, which were convenient
and adapted to tbe work of the association. The
rooms were near the great university building In
Rue des Finances ( Finance street). In a central
but rstber secluded place. Tbe national secre
tary could speak no English nor understand lt
Our communication on the way to the rooms was
by signs and guesses and we succeeded admirably.
There was a good number of persons waiting for
our arrival and afforded us a very lively and
beany welcome After looking over the building
we entered the meeting specially called to greet
me and bear what I bad to communicate to them.
There a as a good number of representative asso
ciation fien present, wtth hearty expressions of
welcome, though la a foreign tongae; these ex
pressions, however, needed no Interpreter; they
were plainly written on their faces and manifest
In all their movements. Such expressions are
tbe same la an language, eaaily understood.
They were also very eager to learn wbat I had to
oommcuicate on association work. I presetted
to them many letters cf greeting I bad with me
from many nations of b world. These greet
ings were heartily received. I then rpeke to
them of tbe aaaciatioa work, strongly emphasis
ing its tremendous Importance, lis marvelous
adantibiiity to tb work It bad to do and iu un
paralleled success. I also answered a number of
questions asked ma
in new cf tb many difficulties in tbe way of
tbe association work, I encouraged them to perse
vere. In tb United States a bar no idea ot
the bitter oppositions to the Young Men's Chris
tian association work by tbe Catholic church.
Tbe association la Brussels is doing a good work,
could do a better and, in tb usual rapid growth
cf association work wherever It baa a reasonable
chance, they would soon be in a satisfactory con
dition to benefit tbe young men ot Brussela.
Tbe next day. Sunday, was a very unpleasant
day. I was not in condition to do much, ao I
ttayed indoors ail day, about tb first day in my
world trip that I spent indoors. I profited very
much by it,
Monday, November I, I spent most ct tbe day
seeing wbat I could of this marvellously beautiful
city. I visited Brussels In 1M and compassed
It very thoroughly. I could see much better then
than now.
In tb evening I attended another representa
tive meeting of tb Toung Men' Christian asso
ciation. I bad a long and nost profitabl con
ference with them. Besides these la.-ge meetings
I had some must satisfactory interviews with in
dividuals on the association work and bow they
could serve In It, I longed for mor time to help
them, but I Lad to go.
On Tuesday, November , I took rne train tor
Antwerp and soon arrived at that most interest
ing city and waa boused in a privat hotel Quite
comfortable. 1 bad acquainted tbe association
folks of Antwerp that tbey would have two days
of my time at their disposal If tbey needed it.
Previous appointments of tbe association bad pro
vided for all the time I promised them, so the
most I hoped to do waa to see abat I could la
Antwerp and possibly have some personal inter
views with association men. They wanted me
very badly, only they could not use tue during tb
time I would be there.
Wednesday. December 7. I via; tea in associa
tion rooiiiS and baa personal interriewa with tbe
young maa acting as general secretary, who went
with me to see tbe president of tbe association,
Mr. J. Pijl. who saa overwhelmed with all the
details of a lectur and entertainment for the as
sociation and could give me no time then., but
invited me most hospitably to spend tbe night at
bis bouse. Unable to do anything for tb asso
ciation. I pat In much ot tbe day aight-e-ing. I
viaited a number of remarkabi place. The
cathedral, with Rabene' masterpiece ia It, th
great Museum containing the Rubens' and Vaa
Dytka pictur gaUaritis. vlcittd soa ruor ttt tl.f
noted buildings, paased through a number of tb
splendid streets and boulevards and several ot Its
magnificent parka. Toward tbe close ot tb day
I was called upon by President Pijl ot tb asso
ciation, wbo told me bis meeting for tbe evening
bad to be given np. as tbe party wbo was to ba
the chief actor In It w as sick and could not per
form bis part. It was a crushing blew to tb
president's hopes, as tb association could not
afford such a disappointment. He wanted m to
go to the hall prepared to make an address to tb
association folks If be could arrange tor lt
thereby making tbe beet of the great disappoint
ment and affording the association folks desirable
Information on association effort- But no meet
ing ot tbe kind couid be arranged tor. I tbe
went with him to bis home and met bis most
(harming family, on of tbe finest I Lav met any
where. I showed them some of my letters ot
greeting from different nationa. Later la tba
evening I bad a most delightful Interview witit
Mr. Pijl on Christian association work. Aa b
was president of the association and aa I would
bave no other opportunity to meet others of th
association, I tried to do all I could to help bira
by every possible suggestion and encouragement.
He received all I bad to say In a very apprecia
tive manner. W talked until very lata at night,
Mr. Pijl is a man ot God. on of the best mem. X
have yet met, and with a family Ilk him. As X
looked 'at him. so concerned for the success of tba
association work In Antwerp and Belgium, and ao
anxious for more association workers, I said
within myself, "O, for more men like Mr. J. FIJI!
with such a true life and purpose, standing as a
Christian business man for th association and
Its work of serving young men. Whil I could
do no formal work for the Antwerp association,
I value most highly tbe personal interviews I Lad
with President Pijl and regretted most sincerely
that I could not remain, a be wanted me to do
when be could arrange a satisfactory meeting for
me.
Belgium bas a most difficult work for Its as
sociation. It ba a national committee and hope
to employ an efficient national secretary to de
vote all his time to the development of true asso
ciation work tlrougiout the kingdom. A very
good man is available a hen tbe means ar pro
vided, Mr. V. Baity cf Brussels.
My stay la Belgium, aith all th drawback,
was most enjoyable. 1 had an intense desire to
remain longer to afford help and encouragement
to the association workers, but I had to pas oa
to my appointments in Holland.
London, England. January 10. 10C
EGBERT WElDENaALU ;
