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The Cornish family were well-known in the days of Omaha's infancy. Joel N. was the first Parks Commissioner of Omaha, and brought in the designer to begin Omaha's park system. Joel's gorgeous 1886 Mansard-style mansion, at 1404 South 10th Street, is one of the very last of Omaha's grand houses left standing. It is still in decent shape, and is a wonderful sight to drive by. An apartment structure was added to the back of it in 1911 (which probably helped save the mansion from demolition, since houses of that size had gone out of fashion), but this doesn't detract from the view of the house if you see it from the front or south side. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places, and deserves a visit if you're in the area. It's still a private house and is not open for visitors. Click here for photos of this wonderful old house. 

Edward was a prominent lawyer around the turn of the century and also heavily involved in the creation of the Omaha Park system, who married his dead client's wife, Selina Coe Carter, the widow of Levi Carter. Edward was a successful businessman who became the owner of the Carter White Lead Works when he married Selena.  Edward seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and it's a bit suspicious that he marries his client's wife. Selena's first husband, Levi Carter, was the person for whom Carter Lake, Iowa was named. 

Edward was apparently an obsessive business owner.  He died at his desk in New York City, at the offices of his company, in 1938.  Selena died 15 days later.  Click here to read an article about these two.

Rob Yasinsac has an extremely interesting page on his Hudson Valley Ruins site which chronicles the known history of the estate Edward and Selena owned in the Hudson Valley Highlands from 1917 to their deaths. Click here to read this great information.

 

 

 Edward J. Cornish