Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-07
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" new home of the First National bank which,
as its name implies, has the longest continued
existence as national bank of any in the CITY
and before that was private bank, dating back
almost to the very beginnings. 1t IS part OF
Omaha history that bank was established De
cember 10, 1857, by the Kountze brothers and that
their first banking house consisted of small one
story frame building OF but single room on the
north side OF Farnam between Twelfth and hir-
teenth streets. Since its debut this is the banks
fourth move the first being to larger building
to the eastward where the Nebraska National
bank now stands the second to the building
across the street but a block further west which
stood on the site OF the structure now beng
vacated and whose occupancy in 1880 marked me
third move, only to be discarded today after
thirty years for another jump to the new business
center 1t is related that in the early days the
purchase and sale of gold mined in Colorado was
a considerable part OF the business transacted by
the bank and that a long shelf extending around
the east side and north end of the room was re-
quently covered with tin pans filled with the
precious metal.
When the national banking system was estab-
lished, ,the Kountze bank took out charter IN
cooperating with $4,000 capital, out of which has
grown the present gigantic financial institution
with its allied trust company, saw, this very
week, letterhead of the bank carrying docu,
ment dated January l. 1866, on which was printed
the directory of the bank at that time, Just htty
years ago, as follows; F. Creighton, president;
A. Saunders, vice president; A. Kountze cashier;
H. w. Yates, assistant cashier; n. kountze AS
we all know, Herman Kountze, whose name alone
appears on that stationery without official title,
later became the president Of the bank and during
the rest of his lifetime was its central figure.
1t in no way dctracts from the ability and
prestige of those who have succeeded him SO
credtably to dwell upon the pre-eminent influence
which Herman Kountze as head OF the bank exer-
r1Ara ffar
many years his approval or endorsement of
project bridged the gap between hard shedding and
assured success. As a rule, however, as dis
covered more than once, he was sparing with his
advice not offering it unless asked for. He also
was possessed Of an almost excessive modesty,
doing his charities anonymously and an extreme
adherence OF personal publicity. and particularly
averse to being pictured in the papers: When |
once sought his permission to use his portrait
in one of our special illustrated editions during
the Trans Mississippi exposition, he not only re-
fused to furnish the photograph but insisted he
would be highly displeased if procured one else
where. I argued with him that, as one OF the
exposition officers, he was in semi-public posi-
ton emitting people to know how he looked, and
for that occasion at least think softened the
force Of his objection. 1t is only too bad that
he could not have lived to see the palatial new
quarters in which the bank for which he laid the
foundation is to be housed for the next span of
its career. he&
An interesting souvenir in the form of an
annual pass over the Union Pacific, dated Decem-
ber a. 1865, and expiring December 81 Of the
same year, was brought to me few days ago 1t
is OF usual card size and is filled in and signed
in the handwriting Of Nv. F. Durant Superin-
tendent," from the name, take it, member OF
the same family as Thomas c. Durant, the presi-
dent Of the company. The pass was recently
found among some papers in the city engineers
tbc Uaa m 1Uac
because it is made out to the name of Andrew
Rosewater, Engineers Office" in word, because
it is pass issued to my uncle when he first came
to Omaha as a mere lad to go out with one OF
the Union Pacific surveying parties for which my
father, who was then in the telegraph service
here had assurance that an opening would be
Forthcoming. The inscription on the face OF the
card saws "See other side" and on the reverse in
addition to the usual conditions exculpating the
road from liability for accidents and warning
notice: This ticket is not to be presented or
used by the holder to procure pass over any
other road" The question Immediately arose in
my mind: What other use could be made OF a
pass over the Union Pacific. in December, 1865?
The best answer obtainable from data within my
reach is that it would enable the holder to travel
presumably in work trains only, over stretch Of
track not exceeding forty miles, for the completed
construction in September, 1865 was eleven miles
and the boast is made that 1t reached all of forty
miles by the end Of the year.
s For retrospect into Omaha history there are
few better authorities than John 4. Bell, one
OF our pioneer court reporters now running a.
little paper out in Newberg, Ore, from whom
have this fascinating story OF his first visit to
Bellevue, which he says he has written by sug-
gestion Of an inquiry from George O. Wallace for.
certain other information which he was unable
to furnish. He writes:
"That letter reminded me Of an incident