Harry P. Deuel
Encyclopedia
Harry Porter Deuel was a prominent railroad man in Omaha, Nebraska
. Over the course of his career Deuel was employed throughout the transportation sector in Omaha
, working for the foremost Missouri River
shipping company in Omaha during its early years. Later he worked for the Union Pacific and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
railroads, among others. He is the namesake of Deuel County, Nebraska
. When he resigned from his last railroad job to become the Douglas County
Registrar of Deeds, Deuel was the oldest railroad man in continuous service in Omaha, and was said to be one of the best known passenger men in the Western United States
.
to Charles P. and Lucy H. (Porter) Deuel, young Harry's family moved to Farmington, Illinois
when he was a year old. His father, originally a cooper
, became a farmer
and sent his kids to public schools in the area. When he graduated from school Harry P. Deuel went to Lombard University
in Galesburg, Illinois
. He worked on the family farm until November 1859 when he moved to Omaha, Nebraska
to work with his uncle, Judge Porter, to run the Porter and Deuel Steamboat
Agency, Forwarding and Commission Company.
Deuel eventually became the agent for the Kansas City, St. Joseph, & Council Bluffs Railroad. After that he was an agent for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
until 1888, when he resigned to become the Omaha passenger agent for the Union Pacific Railroad
. In 1896 he became superintendent of the new Burlington Station in Omaha, a position he held until 1901.
In 1901 Deuel was elected registrar of deeds.
work for more than 50 years, including serving as first Right Eminent Grand Commander elect, and as the Grand Master of the Nebraska Grand Lodge in 1869. He was the thirty-third degree Scottish Rite
, the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belonged to the Elks and other orders.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Over the course of his career Deuel was employed throughout the transportation sector in Omaha
Transportation in Omaha
Transportation in Omaha, Nebraska includes most major modes, such as pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, bus, train and airplane. While early transportation consisted of ferries, stagecoaches, steamboats, street railroads, and railroads, the city's transportation systems have evolved to include the...
, working for the foremost Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
shipping company in Omaha during its early years. Later he worked for the Union Pacific and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
railroads, among others. He is the namesake of Deuel County, Nebraska
Deuel County, Nebraska
-History:Deuel County was formed in 1889. It was named after Harry Porter Deuel, an early pioneer in this area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,098 people, 908 households, and 601 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were...
. When he resigned from his last railroad job to become the Douglas County
Douglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
Registrar of Deeds, Deuel was the oldest railroad man in continuous service in Omaha, and was said to be one of the best known passenger men in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
.
Biography
Born in Clarkson, New YorkClarkson, New York
Clarkson is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.-History:...
to Charles P. and Lucy H. (Porter) Deuel, young Harry's family moved to Farmington, Illinois
Farmington, Illinois
Farmington is a city in the northeast corner of Fulton County, Illinois, United States. It is north of Canton and Lewistown, west of Peoria and Bloomington, and east of Galesburg and Macomb. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. The public school system is Farmington Central Community Unit...
when he was a year old. His father, originally a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
, became a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and sent his kids to public schools in the area. When he graduated from school Harry P. Deuel went to Lombard University
Lombard College
-History:Lombard College was founded in 1853 by the Universalist Church as the Illinois Liberal Institute. In 1855, however, a major fire damaged much of the college, placing its future at risk, but a large gift from Benjamin Lombard, an Illinois farmer and businessman, rescued the institution,...
in Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
. He worked on the family farm until November 1859 when he moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
to work with his uncle, Judge Porter, to run the Porter and Deuel Steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
Agency, Forwarding and Commission Company.
Deuel eventually became the agent for the Kansas City, St. Joseph, & Council Bluffs Railroad. After that he was an agent for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was an American railroad company incorporated in Iowa in 1852, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. It was developed to build a railroad across the state of Iowa and began operations in 1856...
until 1888, when he resigned to become the Omaha passenger agent for the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. In 1896 he became superintendent of the new Burlington Station in Omaha, a position he held until 1901.
In 1901 Deuel was elected registrar of deeds.
Community involvement
Deuel was well-known throughout Omaha social circles, and was prominent in MasonicFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
work for more than 50 years, including serving as first Right Eminent Grand Commander elect, and as the Grand Master of the Nebraska Grand Lodge in 1869. He was the thirty-third degree Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
, the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belonged to the Elks and other orders.
External links
- Historic image of Deuel
