Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-16
COUNT NARES GREAT GIFT
John A. Crsightsn Presents Nearly Half
Million Property to University.
DONATION ON sEvENN-FlFTH BIRTHDAY
ThronG of Friends Gather nj Mag
nihcent Home 20 Pay Respects
to Omaha's Grand old
PhiIanthropist.

TO Omaha's Grand Old
PhiIanthropist.
Count John A. Creighton signalized the
celebration of his seventy-hfth birthday
anniversary by deciding to Creighton uni
versity slOOOo worth of real estate. In
the presence of his relatives and friends and
Of the faculty. students and friends of
Creighton university he delivered the
deeds to the property into the hands of
Father Dowling, president of the uni
versity.
The endowment consists of two large
business blocks, the last two Count Creigh-
ton has built, one the building on Ninth
and Howard streets, of which the Byrne-
Hammer Dry Goods company will soon
take possession. and the other the ware
| house on Jones street, between Tenth and
Eleventh. occupied by the John Deere
! Plow company. The former is eight sto-
1 ries and basement in height and covers
ground 1872 feet square. The site cost
10000 and the building and site are worth
| nearly $250.OOO.
The Deere building is 66x1s2 feet and six
stories in height These two buildings
were erected under long time leases They
will bring the university something over
S2O0O in monthly rentals.
Two years ago Mr.. Creighton gave the
college s2W.0oO worth of property, con-
sisting Of the Arlington block. on Dodge
street, just west of the headquarters of
the Department Of the Missouri, and the
Creighton block, at Fifteenth and Douglas
streets. The income from these two and
the two included in the gift of yesterday
uvf1 ha
| s9cOoO a year.
Rig Home scene Of FeatiVity.
Count Creighton's big home at Twentieth
and Chicago streets was the scene OF fes-
tivity all afternoon and evening yesterday
| at O'Clock the Elks called i'm body.
sixty in number, bringing a great bunch
| of American Beauty roses Judge Vinson-
haler. Robert Cowel w. I. Kierstead and
! w. b. Taylor offered birthday congratula-
tions and Count Creighton responded. Then
the Elks sang He's a jolly Good Fellow"
Later on the Creighton College band came
its members appearing for the first time in
! the new uniforms Count Creighton recently
gave them. The band played at intervals
and in the nterims Fathers Field Wise.
| Whalen aud Sherman sang I'm the parlors
| In the evening the knights of Columbus
captured the house. congratulating the
count on his age. his health and happiness
and receiving his thanks i'm return. Each
guest received a small souvenir bearing
/ the photograph Of the count and n stanza
of verse.
All through the day refreshments were
In readiness on the sideboard and table of
the Creighton dining room and a bevy of
young women waited on the guests. Birth
day presents were shown In the hall and
parlors. In the most conspicuous places
were placed the gifts of the EIks and the
knights OF Columbus. the roses from the
former and an eight-foot ssOO Swiss clock
from the latter.
At the time of the formal presentation OF
the real estate to the university the front
porch the hall of the house and the walk
In front of the porch were crowded with
guests, the president. deans and regents
Of the university, knights, Elks. students
and friends.
Father O'COnnOr's Address
Father NJ. ]. O'Connor. vice president of
the university. acted as chairman on the
occasion. Introducing Count Creighton. ne
said:
The deans and regents of the CREIGHTON
university gathered at Count Creighton's
residence TO offer their CONGRATULATIONS en-
his 10th birthday. Inspired by tho best
Christian impulses, Count Creighton has
never failed to act up to the true ethical
ideals in the use Of the riches which God
has allowed TO come to him. Plain and
simple in his ways and life, he has held
his wealth In trust for the helm of those
less favored by Providence. and his mu-
nifcent endowments to the university that
is proud to bear his name as we'll as to the
religious and charitable institutions of ouI
city, tell how worthily he has fulfilled his
trust Little wonder that his genial kindly
nature has won the respect and love Of ali
about him. whose united prayer today will
be that tho wears still To be his NAV be
crowned with haDpiness i'm measure filled
up. and pressed down, and running over
Counts Cordial words.
In his address Count Creighton said, max.
ing the great donation:
Gentlemen: 1t was always the wish OF
my dear departed brother, Edward to
build up i'm this western country a free
educational institution that would prove
veritable boon for the youth of Omaha
and it's vicinity. Though he left means &c
begin the work, these means I'm the rapid
growth and development OF the institu,
tion, were found to be inadequate II
was his one desire, the hope. aim and am
bition of his life to build up such a free
institution. His wish was mine. To
make that hourishing center of moral and
mental development secure against any
financial reverse that might threaten its
welfare, If not its very existence, IL was
necessary to put II on solid financia
basis. During these later years this ha.
been a subject of deep thought 10 me
with the means God has given me,
think | have Co-operated faithfully witt
the project my dear brother had i'm mind
have seconded his efforts to the best OF
my ability by putting the institution, which
bears his name. on such lasting basis
that IL will without fear OF financial en-.
barrassment, continue to develop the west
ern youth into a vigorous and sturdy
American manhood. For this reason ant
to show my appreciation of the work ac
complished along these lines, have
chosen todsy-my 18th brthday-when
have passed considerably the scriptura
three score years and ten. 10 accomplish
with security during my lifetime the com
plete endowment needed by Creighton
/ college, because ! have always desired Il
be I'm great part my own executor
hereby present to you, Father Bowling. a,
head of the institution the deeds for tn.
buildings recently erected by me on Jonei
street and on Howard street as this wai
the purpose | had In view when buidinI
| them,
President DOwIinE Responds.
As Count Creighton finished speakinl
and handed TO President Bowling the deed,
to the two buildings. a deafening cheel
went up. The happiness of President