Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-11
CHARLES E. soUlRES DEAD
Well known citizen Succumbs to
Heart Disease After Protrncted
uIness-His Career In Omaha.


Charles L. Squires. who has for many
years been a familiar figure in Omaha bust
nees and social life, died at 1850 o'clock
Saturday afternoon at the Squires home, 2o2
South Twenty fifth street, after an illness
OF several weeks. An affection Of the heart,
superiuduced by a complication Of diseases,
was the cause Of death.
MIR. Sauiree was born October IS. 1871, at
Davenport. Ia. where he remained until the
outbreak OF the civil war. He entered the
army in the Twentieth Iowa regiment as a
lieutenant and served so faithfully that at
the close Of the struggle in 1865 he had won
the rank of captain. Immediately following
the restoration of peace Mr.. Squires located
in Omaha. taking a clerical position in the
quartermaster's department OF army head
quarters. There he served several years,
During the earlier part Of his Omaha ca
reer Mr.. Squires was particularly prominent
in a social way-in fact, he was the recog-
nized leader Of representative society. He
was the chief organizer Of the Pleasant
Hours club, a social organization which
held much prestige and which fourished
from 1869 to 1881. Its membership included
the refined element of Omaha. The Pleas
ant Hours club has passed into history and
it's founder is dead, but both will live in
the memory Of those who enjoyed within
its circle many pleasant hours, as the name
implies. The Pleasant Hours club was an
object OF pride with Mr.. Squires.
In 1851 MIR. Squires left the army head
quarters and entered the employ of the Bar
Der Asphalt company. He remained with
that firm continuously until his death, at
which time he was general western agent.
with headquarters in this city. Perhaps one
of the best tributes that can be paid the
deceased is mention of the fact that to him
more than to any other is due the credit
for Omaha's ~asphaltum streets. He a~gitated
that proposition until he succeeded in get
ting asphalt on about twenty-seven miles of
streets out of a total of eighty miles OF
pavement. While this was to him a business
proposition, at the same time 1t was es-
teemed as a public work of great benefit TO
the city. In business affairs he was as ag-
gressive as he was popular in social life.
The Barber Asphalt company reposed i'm
plicit confidence in Mr.. Squires and he was
one OF the most thoroughly trusted of all
the attaches of that extensive concern.
DR.. George l.. Miller. whom everybody
knows as an Omaha pioneer, was one of the
most intimate friends OF the deceased,
Speaking OF Mr.. Squires' deatl. DR.. Miller
said: 81 am deeply grieved over the loss OF
Charley Squires. To me his death is a Sc
we're dow. | regarded MIN as a man OF eN-
ceptional worth and have always thought
he had bright prospects. He was distin-
guished for his polished manners and his
frankness and honesty. He was known to
almost everybody in Omaha who had lived
here for any length of time. His admirable
traits gave him entree to our best social
life. His popularity was remarkable-in
fact, it was without limit among the better
element. In later years when he engaged in
business on a somewhat extensive scale he
him q public benefactor, inasmuch as he il
the cause of Omaha having such splendid
asphalt streets. This alone is enough tC
make all Omaha cherish his memory"
Twenty-Five years ago Mr.. Squires married
Miss Ella Cole, who, with one daughter, Miss
Louise, survives him. The twenty-ffth ami,
versary of the Squires' wedding is today
just one day following his death. He re-
manned conscious until the shadow fell anC
it was his cherished hope that he might sur.
vive his wedding anniversary and celebrate
it even though upon his death bed. Mrs
Squires and her daughter are well known il
society. other surviving relatives are two
sisters, Mrs. William H. Guthrie of Helena
Mont. and Mrs. A. Judson Smith of Daven-
port, Ia, and two brothers, William H. OF
Helena and George G.. OF this city. He also
leaves two half brothers, Henry and Fred
erick Squires. who live in the east. Tn:
funeral plans have not yet been perfected.