Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-21
EARLY FIREMEN IN OMAHA
First Department Organized in 1860 with
Only Eight Members,
NONE BUT PROPERTY OWNERS ACCEPTED
Those Who Have Served as chief OF
the Department with some of
the Zig Fires I'm
the City.

best of cities OF the hrst class the old pio-
neerJ who have contributed to its support
and watched its growth through three
decades of years look back with pride to its
modest origin.
The birth of the department took place in
the fall Of 1860 Omaha was a sturdy young
ster at that time with its mushroom frame
structures scattered abc,t upon the breezy
tableland which today forms the business
center OF the city. Everything was Of
wooden construction, yet the streets were
broad and the structures low, and little fear
was entertained of a copllagratio The in
habitants of the hustling little burg awoke
from their dreams of security one day with
an abruptness which was more startling
than agreeable.
A fire started one afternoon in the old
general merchandise store which was To-
Gated on the ground nov occupied by the
Paxton hotel. It burned briskly and the
proprietor was obliged ID stand by with his
hands in his pockets and watch his little
stock of goods go up in smoke. A bucket
brigade was formed, but its work was abor-
tive.
This was the first serious Connagraton
ever experienced in Omaha. and it dawned
upon the minds of the citizens that it was
time to be up and doing. Agreeable TO this
idea, A. j. Simpson In the spring of 1860
called a meeting of eight representative
townspeople and it was decided to organize
the first fire fighting brigade of Omaha. 1t
was volunteer company and there was no
chief, although Mr.. Simpson was recognized
as it's nominal head.
QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.
The company went to work with zest
From the charter number of eight members
the brigade was rapidly augmented to forty.
a membership
eXaCting and in view of the present ex-
animation necessary to a position on the de-
partment were rather peculiar. The appli-
cant for fire fighting honors was requested
to leave his religion and politics behnu
him. None but able-bodied men need ask
for recognition and preference was given
to property owners, as it was known that
their interests would best advance those of
the brigade.
Among these whose names appear on the
roster of the honorary members of Pioneer
Hook and Ladder company, No. l, are the
following; Benjamin Stlckles William J.
Kennedy, A. j. Simpson, Fred Kumpf, f. l..
Ruff, Frank Murphy, William l.. May, John
NJ. Shelley, George Giacomini Samuel Burns,
Leopold May, Fred Court, Frank Delone, |.
G. Megeath, r. N. Witherell Aaron Calm,
John Logan, A. D. McAusand, ID. C. Sutphen,
ID. B. Taphard, j. f. Sheely, Henry Gray, II.
r. A. Pundt, p. Windhem, Frank Kleffner,
Fred Krug, George w Crowell, j. e. Market,
H. Il. Lalev, DAVID l.. confer, w. L. w lCOS,
E. l.. Stone, George A. Hoagland H. X.
Smith. p. ]. Kahbach, T. b. w. Lemon, L. C.
Rediield, John a. Crosby, l.. S. Reed and e.
NJ Wittig.
| The apparatus consisted of primitive four
| wheeled truck plenteouSly supplied with rude
| ladders and buckets and decorated with lib
eral quantity of red paint. The brigade did
| excellent work on the small blazes which
| broke out from time to time till in 1856 it
| became imperative to increase the fire fighting
| facilities of the organization Previous tc
that year the work of quenchng the flames
| had been performed by means of the bucket
| brigade When the fire was located double
| line OF men was formed between the near
| est water supply and the burning building,
| and the buckets We're passed along from
| hand to hand and thrown upon the blaze.
The other line of men passed them back TO
| the well or cistern and they were rehled.
BUY A HAND ENGINE.
In 1866 A. ]. Simpson went to Davenport
! and bought hand engine. 1t was dubbed the
| Fire King and the town turned out in a
| body to welcome the new acquisition to the
| department. During the interim of years
| from the organization Of the department up
| to the purchase of the hand pump there was
| no chief. Upon the placing in service of the
| Fire King A. j. Simpson was unanimously
| appointed to this position by the city council
| and thus he became the first fire chief of
| the fire department.
| ment during the years of 1866, 1867 and 1868
| No fires Of great magnitude occurred during
| his term of office, yet what demands were
| made upon the department were answered
| with promptness, and good work was per-
| formed. Chief Simpson was at length obliged
to resign owing to calls of personal business.
| During his period Of service chief the
| first steam fire engine was added to the de-
| partment. This was in 1867. The engine wac
| called the Omaha" and was one Of those
1l1 ,I,, H.,
| passed out of fashion. 1t was stationed on
| Twelfth street between Farnam and Douglas
| The department was also improved in many
ways. both as regards the drilling of the
men and in the apparatus
Chief Simpson turned over his duties OF
office to o. P. ingalls,, who acted in this
| capacity for one year. He was then sue
| Cesded by j. f. Shelley, who acted as head
| of the department during the years of 1863
and 1870. 1t was during this period that the
| first assistant chief was appointed in the
| person of ]. e. Markell In the fall of 1863
| the city purchased the second steam fire en-
| gine, which was called the Fire King" and
! it was stationed in old No. 2 engine house
| on Tenth street. The hand engine was rele-
| gated to the scrap pile.
| GALLIGAN A FIRE FIGHTER.
| J. e. Markell was appointed chief for the
! years 1871 and 1872, and was succeeded by
| Charles Simpson in 1873. 1t was in 1874 that
| fighter. was appointed. Galigan had served
| in various capacities in the department and
| his work was characterized from the first
! by his thorough fitness as a fireman. Be
sides acting as a stoker for Fire King No. 2
ho also acted in the same capacity for the
| "Durant," an engine purchased by the
| Union Pacific company in 1872. Galligan dur
ing his first term occupied the office of chief
up until 1876, when he was succeeded for one
| year by Frank Klefner. His next term oi
-. ,,sIa 10 atrg
place to John II. Butler, who served till 1885
| From 1886 until 1895 Gallgan again served
until supplanted by Chief Redell
Galligan first saw the light of day at Taun-
| ton Mass. in 1SiS. He removed With hia
parents to Chicago in 1851, and while yet q
| young man enlisted in the Ninth Illinois
| cavalry at the breaking out of the war
| Upon the conclusion OF hostilties he returned
! to Chicago and first appeared on the streets
OF Omaha in 1867. He secured a position in
the Union Pacific shops as a machinist and
| Immediately joined Fire King" Engine