Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-22
CITY LOOKS GOOD TO FOLSOM
Omaha Makes Deep ImprsiSion on Head Of
Big Estate Hsrs.
WILL HOLD INTERESTS INDEFINITELY
Grieved at Death Of Edward Rose
water, of whom ne Speaks as
one of Best Friends of
City and state.

Just fifty years ago this month / picked
hazel nuts on the hill, where the court house
and the Bee building now stand" said
BENJAMIN Folsom of Pasadena. Cal. cousin
Of Mrs Grover Cleveland, who was in the
city for a few hours yesterday looking
after some details OF business connected
with the Omaha property OF the Folsom
estate.
This was a Withholding place then. a
very small town. with very few trees.
Most of the houses were built Of cotton
wood logs and don't remember that there
was a brick house in the city. II is re-
markable to think the city has grown past
the Farnam hill and miles beyond and that
the old part of the city is one long stretch
of jobbing and retail houses. I was here
two years ago and / can see marked
growth even since then Coming UP from
the station I was struck by the building
activity on Tenth and Ninth streets and
when came up town 1 was more surprised
by the magnificent structures being erected
by Brandeis. Webster and Sunderland and
the Young Mems Christian association.
II noticed more people on the streets to-
day than saw when l was here last and I
am given to understand from many sources
that the population has more than kept
pace with the building. feel that Omaha
is good place to have property just now
and what the Folsoms own here Will be
held indefinitely. / stopped in the city
for the purpose OF closing up a sale made
some time ago and the proceeds from It
will be used in improvements on other
property.
Came Here First In 1894.
Yes" continued Mr. Folsom, going back
to old times, II came here from New York
in 1864 with my mother and sisters my
father having preceded us by two years
We came by boat to Chicago from there
70 Alton by the Chicago q Alton road,
then by boat down the Mississippi and up
the Missouri to Omaha. After short stop
here we went on up the river to a point
on the river near Tekamah. where my
father had home and a sawmill.
That winter was the coolest have ever
seen. Snow fell four feet on the level
and the cattle and wild game persisted from
cold and lack of food / saw quail and
prairie chickens dead in heaps under the
snow A thin crust formed on the snow
which was not strong enough to hold up
deer. but which would bear the weight
Of man on snow shoes. and I have seen
the men walk right up to deer and kill
them within sight of home. My mother
In the winter ana were Kept there until
spring by series of billiards.
The property which the Folsoms own
In Omaha was bought by my father in
1854 soon after his arrival in the west He
brought about $4,000 in gold with him
from New York, investing part of II in saw.
mills and part in property in Omaha and
near Tekamah. which became the county
seat Of the county Afterwards organized
by him. He stopped at Chicago with the
Idea OF investing but deciding that place
was too swampy to ever make a large city
he came on to Omaha
II was very deeply grieved to hear of the
death of Edward Rosewater, said Mr.
Folsom "A more conscientious worker
for the interests Of Omaha and the state
never lived in Nebraska. He was a friend
Of mine and I used to have talk with
him every time I came to Omaha"
Mr.. Folsom left last night for his home
In Pasadena