Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-03
JUDGE JOHN |. REDICK DEAD
One Of 0maha's Earliest Citizens Passes
Away After Prolonged Illness.
HLMoRHHAGE IS THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE
Surrounded By Most of His Family
~ the Ola Home on North
Twenty-FOurth street
Pioneer Dies.

John I. Redick, one of the pioneer citi-
Gems Of this city, passed away at his resi-
dcnce, 36i2 North Twenty-fourth street
Tuesday at $40 D. M Mr.. Redick was
operated upon last fall and had not been
well since, although he had been around
until the last two weeks, during which
time he was confined to his bed. Most OF
his family was around the bedside of Mr.
Redck during his last moments. The Inn
mediate cause OF his death was a hemor-
rhage
John l. Redick was born at Wooster, o.,
July 20, 1928. He moved TO Lansing, Mich,
when young man and was admitted to
the bar at that place. He arrived in
Omaha October p, 1856. and at once threw
his vigorous and forceful personality into
the then young settlement He was prom
inently ideutihed with all of the early inn
provements and growth Of the city and
was one Of a coterie Of fsr-sighted men
who saw In the town it's future possibili-
ties and greatness, much OF which he has
lived to see realized.
It was more as a successful lawyer be
fore a fury than any other one accom-
plishment that marked Judge Redick as
one Of the shining lights of his profession.
lie was a past master in the art of con-
vlncing a jury, his great intuitiveness and
wit counting for much on many coca
slons.
He first Joined with James a. Chapman
I'm the law business in Omaha, the firm
being known as Redick & Chapman. The
partnership was of short duration, Mr..
Redick forming a legal alliance in 1889 with
Clinton Briggs. For ten years the f1rm
OF Redick & Briggs was n mighty factor
in the local courts, gaining a number Of
notable decisions also in the supreme court
In land cases, During 1882 Mr.. Redick went
into partnership with W. ]. Cornell. this
alliance lasting a year.
His Political Activity.
In January, 1887. he moved to Los An
geles, Cal, and engaged in real estate
transactions, in which business he was
then, as well as before and since. highly
successful. While at Los Angeles he
served two years as president of the South
ern California National bank, returning to
Omaha In the fall Of 1889 since which time
he was engaged principally in looking after
his extensive property. interests.
Though not a politician in the usual
sense, Mr. Redick, on account Of his recog-
nized ability, was honored with various
positions. In 1876 President Grant APP
pointed him one OF the judges Of the ter
TilOTY Oh NtN hHAlNut dlAtI WHICH
vice Mr. Redick was attorney for the
Union Pacific road for one and a half
years. with offlces at Denver. He was a
member OF the Seventh Nebraska legisa-
ture: was chairman of the Nebraska dele
CATION at Pittsburg when Lincoln and
johnson were. nominated, and chairman of
the same delegation at Baltimore when
Grant was renomInated for the presidency.
Mr. Redick was one of seven men to
build the Omaha & Northwestern rail-
road: was one of the builders Of the Grand
Central hotel and was one OF the organ
izers of Brownell hall in 1868.
In the main Judge Redick has been a res
publican in politics. He was comuuni-
cant of the Episcopal church.
During his long residence in Omaha he
was exceptionally fortunate in his real
estate dealings. holding at the time Of his
death many properties throughout the city.
Judge Redick is survived by wife and
hve sons. The sons are; Charles R., prac-
ticing law in Oklahoma; Judge William A..
one OF the Douglas County district judges
o. Chatham, a member of the Omaha
bar; George NJ. and Elmer, the youngest
sons. yet IN school. Albert C1arkson, an
other son. died in Omaha two years ago.
Mrs. Marie Maggie. a sister of Mr.. Redick
lives in Wooster o.
Mr.. Redick was married three times His
first wife was Mary r. Higbee, whom he
married at Pittsburg in 1856 She died In
Omaha during 1866 and two years later he
married Mary f. May OF Omaha. The
third wife was Miss Barbara Lyon OF Ham
ilton. Can. She was married to Judge
Redick at Detroit about nine years ago.
Opinion of n Contemporary.
Judge e. Wakeley, one OF Judge
Redick's contemporaries in the early days
has this to say of the dead jurist and
pioneer:
Judge Redick was noted for his great
activity and aggressiveEess as a lawyer in
particular and everything else in general
that he undertook to do. He was one OF
the workers He was noted at the bar
for his humor and quick wit and had much
tact in handling case before a jury.
aside from his legal talents he DOS
sessed a peculiar faculty for buying and
selling real estate 20 advantage, through
which means he amassed considerable
wealth, He was one of Omaha's pioneer
and great lawyers. practlcing here with
such men as Estabrook, woolworth. Pom
pleton, Briggs and list OF others I might
mention"
And as Judge wakeley said this he drew
his hand across his head and looked bach
obSe more over the half forgotten years.
Il % not recall that the Judge had an,