Mr. Omich was born in Oakland County, Michigan in 1846, and was married to Miss Rhoda Beebe, October 9, 1870. He was a graduate of Ann Arbor, Michigan, School of Medicine and practiced medicine for 25 years. He moved from Michigan to Wisconsin in 1880, from Wisconsin to North Dakota in 1886 and to Bemidji in 1896. He operated Bemidji’s first drug store. An 1896 ad listed Dr. J. P. Omich as proprietor of the Bemidji Drug Store, located in the Pioneer Block. Mrs. Omich advertised that she could accept a few more day boarders in May 1896. Dr. Omich was appointed to the health board in 1897.
Dr. James P. Omich and family lived in the Carson Addition at 109 Irvine Avenue SW, on the northwest corner of Oak St. and Irvine Ave. It was a very large house and according to the Sanford fire maps was one a few houses on Irvine Avenue S. from 1909 to at least 1928. The Omich family was one of the wealthier families in Bemidji and the house must have been a grand one.
Dr. and Mrs. Omich had three daughters, Cora, Grace, and Gertrude. Cora Omich and George Earl Carson, one of the pioneer Carson Bros, were married in Becker County on May 18, 1896. The Carsons first took up residence within the city on Sept 4, 1901 and lived in the two-story Carson building at 200 Third St., but by 1904, G. E. Carson and Cora had moved to 223 Irvine Ave. S., a beautiful location that overlooked Lake Irving.
Gertrude Carson married W. E. Rogers in Becker County on Feb 22, 1896. In 1910, she was teaching in Colorado, and J. P. Omich and Rhoda were sharing a home with her at Denver.
Grace Omich married Harry M. Young at Bemidji on Nov 30, 1904. In 1909, J. P. Omich was a partner with his son-in-law, H. M. Young in the cement business of Omich & Young in 1909. They were extensive sidewalk contractors, but also estimated on and executed contracts for every work known to cement. In addition to their contracting interests, they manufactured hollow concrete blocks, cement posts and steps, etc., making a specialty of hollow concrete blocks. The firm was skilled in the craft of cement mixing.
Rev. Allen Clark has recently moved into the J. P. Omich house on the lake front near Grand Forks Bay. Rev. Clark is in the missionary work for the Congregational society and has charge of the Northern Minnesota field. (Nov 13, 1902)
Dr. Omich purchased the news and confectionery business of J. T. Wheelock in March 1902 and stated that he would conduct it personally. Wheelock retained the employment business and planned to conduct his office in the same place at 218 Beltrami Avenue.
When the creation of a new baseball park at the foot of America Avenue came up in the spring of 1906, Mr. Omich, along with John Wallin and A C. McClean, strongly objected. They considered the proposed location a great injury to their property. “I, for one, shall fight the playing of baseball there on Sunday to the full extent of my ability,” declared Mr. Omich. They objected to the potential noise that would be created by horns, megaphones, etc. Once the field was built, a fence was added to reduce the amount of noise to the neighborhood.
In 1913, J. P. Omich had a Curio Shop at 301 Beltrami Ave.
Dr. James Polk Omich died at his home on May 30, 1919, following an illness of several months. He leaves his wife and three daughters, Mrs. W. N. Weber and Mrs. G. E. Carson, both of Bemidji, and Mrs. Grace Young of Portland, Ore. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian church, Rev. L. P. Warford officiating.
Mrs. J. P. Omich died at her home after an illness of about three months on Dec 10, 1922. Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church.